You’ve grown up in a country where people were kidnapped and sold as slaves in years past. Yours is a farming family, so you’ve learned to work hard and be patient. Civil war has driven you from your home, but you’ve worked hard on your education and gotten a good job. Wanting a better life for yourself, your family, and your country, you come to the United States to further your education.

So when some ignorant, impatient person tells you to “get back on the boat and go home,” what do you do?

If you’re Claude Diogo, you simply deflect them by agreeing with them and go on with your work, knowing you’re focused on goals and dreams that these people just can’t understand. This kind of attitude and focus is why Claude Diogo was chosen as this year’s Underwood Scholarship winner.

Tough Beginning

Claude grew up in a rural farming community in Liberia, an area of West Africa founded by the United States as a resettlement country for former slaves. For young Liberians wishing to pursue their education, the norm is to complete one’s bachelor degree in Liberia, and then go to the US for higher education. With a degree from the US, you can be assured of a job back in Liberia. However, when civil war broke out in Liberia, all bets were off. But this didn’t stop Claude from pursuing his dreams.

After completing his bachelor’s degree in Liberia, Claude moved to Benin, four countries east of his home. Finding a good job with a non-government organization (NGO) called the International Foundation for Education and Self Help, Claude trained teachers, and provided advising, planning, evaluating, and implementing assistance to the superintendent.

Across the Pond

But after thirteen years in Benin, Claude’s dreams of higher education called to him. So he packed up his wife and small daughter and they moved to Detroit, where his wife had family. To pay the bills, Claude accepted a job at a relative’s gas station. To be fair to his employer, he agreed to stay for a year.

Of course, this job didn’t compare on any level to what he’d been doing in Benin, so there were tough days. Since Claude’s English was British English, it was sometimes difficult for him to understand and communicate quickly with Americans, or to understand some of the attitudes he encountered. Some customers would become impatient and even tell Claude he should “get back on the boat and go home.” Some even repeatedly returned to the station to bother him.

Claude’s response to this treatment helps us see what kind of man he is and displays his thoughtfulness and fortitude. “It’s like when you plant a seed; it has to grow. Sometimes it has to be battered by the sun or rain, but that’s what it has to go through to become a full-grown plant or tree.”So it wasn’t a problem for me to go through that period.”

Bound for MSU

When his year was over, Claude began applying to schools. Finally finding the Agri-Business program at MSU’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Claude applied and was accepted. With only two days notice (because his paperwork had been lost), Claude left his family in Detroit and came to MSU to begin his classes. Eventually, he moved his family into Spartan Village, where they have lived for the past two years.

Living in Spartan Village was a big change for Diogo. After living in his Detroit apartment for a year and a half, he was accustomed to getting no response when requesting that something be repaired. Once here, he discovered that someone would reply to his request, sometimes in as little as twenty minutes, and arrange to repair whatever was wrong.

Part of the H&FS Family

This was a big motivation for Claude to take on the job of an emergency aide for University Apartments when the opportunity arose. “Being a tenant has contributed to my attitude because I’m willing to offer my customers the same degree of service that I expect from others.” He works nights, weekends, and holidays, and is responsible for providing maintenance services to residents and guests in Spartan Village, Cherry Lane and University Village apartments.

Being in a positive team environment makes Claude’s job easier. “I feel like I belong to a group that is concerned about moving forward with the goal of the organization. We don’t waste time complaining; the customer comes first.”Claude also has good things to say about his boss, Maintenance Supervisor Scott Pierpont. “When you go to him with a problem, he always listens and is always ready to help with a work-related problem. We also don’t hear him complaining about other workers, so we know he wouldn’t talk about us either.”

Even though it can be hard work, and the hours can be long and late, Claude finds rewards in his job. “When a customer comes in, sometimes you see apprehension in their face. But when you are able to solve their problem, you can also see relief in their face. The greatest reward is to see them leaving satisfied, with a smile on their face, after you’ve solved their problem.” For Claude, the key is in listening. “You have to acknowledge that they have a need. But first you must listen to them. You’re preparing them to listen to you.”

Onward & Upward

What’s next for Claude? He’s due to graduate next May from the Agri-Business program and plans to apply for the Master’s Program. However, he’s also looking for a job in his field of international agricultural development. His ideal situation would be to find a position where the employer would pay for his graduate school. Claude would like to eventually form his own NGO, where he could find a way to send needed agricultural equipment and tools back to Liberia, where there is a strong need.

The Division is privileged to have employees like Claude Diogo, who show us daily what commitment to customer service really means. Not only does he provide a great role model as an employee, but he also demonstrates true compassion for others in his career choice. We congratulate Claude Diogo on being chosen as this year’s Underwood Scholar.

A luncheon was held in September at Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center’s Olympus Room to present Claude with his award. Former H&FS Vice President Robert Underwood, for whom the scholarship is named, Richard Colton, President of AAL Laundries, who funds the scholarship, and Glynn Culver, AAL Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, joined with several H&FS representatives including Vice President Vennie Gore and Claude’s supervisor Scott Pierpont, to honor Claude and his family. Claude was extremely appreciative of the scholarship, since he has financed his education with student loans and his work/study jobs. The financial help is much appreciated. We wish Claude and his family all the best in their future endeavors.