Shepherd University M.B.A. student Siriki Diabate was recently honored by the embassey of his home country, Cote d’Ivoire, for his leadership at Shepherd and in the community. He is shown receiving his certificate from the wife of Ambassador Diabate Daouda, Cecile Diabate, as the ambassador looks on. Also shown is Ambassador Bockari Kortu Stevens from Sierra Leone.

A Shepherd University graduate student was honored on Aug. 8 by the embassy of his home country for his leadership at Shepherd and in the community.

Siriki Diabate, an M.B.A. student, was recognized by the Embassy of Cote d’Ivoire during a celebration of the country’s Independence Day.

Diabate traveled to the embassy in Washington, D.C., where he received a certificate of recognition from Ambassador Diabate Daouda.

“I’m proud that my native country recognized all the effort of my leadership at Shepherd University and in the Shepherdstown community,” Diabate said.

“The ambassador recognizing me is a great compliment.”

Diabate credits Shepherd with giving him the opportunity to take on leadership roles. He earned his B.S. in political science from Shepherd and is involved in Pi Sigma Alpha, the political science national honor society, and the Pan African Student Union. He was the recipient in 2015 of Lowe Family Award, which honors students for high academic achievement and outstanding service to the university. Diabate also played a key role in inviting several ambassadors from African nations to speak at Shepherd.