From African bushlands to Baltimore: The long path to education for a Hopkins star

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The bushlands of West Africa are far in many ways from the Johns Hopkins University, and the path was neither sure nor straight for the boy whose name meant "beloved by his ancestors." They called him Kpimenongme Mwinnyaa.

George Mwinnyaa, 29, received a bachelor's degree in public health with academic honors at Hopkins' commencement Wednesday. Mwinnyaa was named the outstanding senior researcher in the prestigious public health program and wore the honorary cords.

Afterward, Mwinnyaa slipped back into the woven African smock he wears to remember where his path began. "If you don't know where you come from, you will not know where you are going," he says.