Mwamba Muntanga ’25 came to Whitman College with one goal: to earn a degree that would get him a good job.
The youngest of five, Muntanga grew up in Lusaka, Zambia. He saw his parents and older siblings work in manual labor and hospitality. He knew he wanted more. So did his mother.
“My mom constantly told me that education is the only way to get out,” says Muntanga. “She was very upfront. She would say, ‘Yo, Mwamba, you’re not good at manual labor. You’re not suited for factory work. You need to get out of this. The only way is if you pay attention in school.’ That was it for me.”
After completing primary school, he landed a scholarship that allowed him to go to high school. It was there that his Whitman journey began.
Read more about Muntanga’s road to Whitman and what inspired him to help three fellow Africans to join him on campus.
