Makorobondo Kamongwa “Dee” Salukombo ’12 doesn’t avoid hard things.
The chemistry major adopted a new country and culture ten years ago when he moved to Cleveland from Uganda, where he and his family had fled as refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo during the Second Congo War.
After graduating from Denison, Dee was awarded $10,000 through the Davis Projects for Peace initiative, which funds undergraduate projects that promote and build peace across the globe. With the money, Dee returned to his childhood home of Kirotshe where he created a technology-learning center and brought new educational opportunities to his homeland.
Throughout all this time, Dee, a six-time All-American in cross country and track and field, has devoted his life to distance running—wearing down countless pairs of shoes in the process.
Now, he is training for the Olympics. This video by Refugee Services Collaborative of Greater Cleveland highlights the life and work of Dee and his close relationship with his Denison coach, Phil Torrens, and his family.
Good luck, Dee! We’re all cheering for you.
Dee left an indelible mark on Denison during his time as an undergrad, on and off the track. Read more about him at the following links.
- Athlete running to the rescue (Columbus Dispatch, May 13, 2012 - Print)
- Salukombo ends career with All-American performance (Denison Sports, May 26, 2012)