Dawit (Dave) Gurmu was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
He moved to the United States in 2015 at the age of 18 after graduation from high school. He comes from a big family with six older siblings including five sisters and one brother. He currently lives with his mom, two of his sisters and his brother in White Bear Lake. Dave loves his family and they are very supportive, caring, and always there for him when needed.
Dave has an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts from Normandale Community College and recently graduated from the University of Minnesota with his Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences. He has always been interested in the details of science, but struggled to find a major that fit his interests. He heard about MLS from his TRIO advisor at Normandale and began to research the field himself. He chose MLS because he saw it as the hidden backbone of the healthcare profession.
The Pathways Scholarship gave Dave a significant opportunity to pursue his academic goals without the burden of financial stress. “Receiving the Pathways Scholarship allowed me to focus on my studies and prepare for fulfilling my academic journey, knowing that my financial needs were being met. Ultimately, receiving the Pathways Scholarship was a life-changing experience that opened up new possibilities for me and helped me achieve my professional aspirations.” Dave wants to thank those who made this scholarship possible and supported him in achieving his dreams!
Dave is currently working for Allina Health Central Laboratory as a generalist. He believes now is the time to join the profession with the shortage of laboratory professions and the challenges of the COVID pandemic. Eventually, he would like to advance his education further with a Masters and/or PhD degree. Dave says applying to the UMN MLS Program is one of the best life decisions he has made and wishes to thank faculty members, students, friends, and family for their support.
Here are the specific qualifying guidelines for University of Minnesota MLS students to receive funding from The MLS Pathways Scholarship, and descriptions of the many other scholarships that students in the MLS program can apply to receive.