Ephram Mersha, Kogod/BS ’28, didn’t expect to choose a college in Washington, DC. 

Like many students raised in the city, he imagined college as a departure—a chance to stretch beyond familiar streets and routines. “I absolutely wanted to leave,” he recalls. “I was thinking far—I wanted to go to Ohio or North Carolina, anywhere but DC.” 

But a visit to campus shifted something. 

“I came to Admitted Students Day, and I really loved it,” he says. “I felt seen. I felt represented.” 

Now a rising junior studying business administration at American University’s Kogod School of Business, Ephram has found something unexpected in staying close to home: not limitation, but expansion. 

Growing up on the opposite side of Northwest DC, even AU felt like new territory. “I hadn’t really explored this part of the city before,” he says. “And I was the only person from my high school who came here—I didn’t know anybody.” 

Instead of shrinking from that unfamiliarity, Ephram leaned into it. 

“I’ve really had the opportunity to grow because I had to branch out,” he says, describing how he’s taken advantage of every resource and opportunity—not just to better himself, but to uplift others along the way. 

That instinct shows up most clearly in his work with Brother Brother, a mentorship organization supporting students of color. As a sophomore liaison and mentor, Ephram focuses on impact that is immediate and personal. 

“You can see it right away,” he says. “I meet with my mentees, I send them resources—it’s about giving back to the community.” 

From mentoring in the Emerging Eagles Leadership Program to his role as an administrative assistant in the Center for Student Belonging, Ephram approaches leadership as an act of service. 

“If I’m not helping others, then I’m not doing anything,” he says. 

It’s not just a belief—it’s a daily practice. And it’s shaped, in part, by the support he’s received himself. 

As a recipient of the Margie and Don Myers Scholarship, Ephram knows his path might have looked very different without it. 

“Getting that scholarship was everything,” he says. “That’s what really impacted my decision.” 

For his family, the impact reaches beyond tuition. 

“My mom provides for me and my sister,” he explains. “Having that support meant I wouldn’t have to stress her out. It made a huge difference.” 

It also gave him something less tangible, but just as powerful: the ability to focus. 

“Without it, I’d be worried about paying bills,” he says. “Now I can focus on growing—as a person, as a leader, as a student.” 

That growth is already taking shape. 

A lifelong sports fan, Ephram is turning passion into purpose—taking specialized courses, earning certifications, and seeking out mentors in the field. 

One moment in particular left a lasting impression. At a 250+ at American event, he connected with AU alumnus and sports journalist David Aldridge, SOC/BA ’87. 

“I asked him how he got to where he is, and what advice he had,” Ephram says. “He told me: lift as you climb.” 

The phrase stuck. 

“I want to get to a point where people can use me as a resource,” he says. “Where I can help others get where they’re trying to go.” 

For Ephram, sports management isn’t just about teams or leagues—it’s about influence. 

“Athletes and executives have so much power,” he says. “I want to be in a position where I can use that to make change—to reduce poverty, to create opportunities, to help people.” 

He isn’t just chasing a career. He’s building a platform. 

And one day, he hopes to come full circle—giving back in the same way others have invested in him. 

“Thank you for believing in students like me,” he says. “It means the world. And I won’t let you down.”