Kofiro Named Outstanding Recent Alumnus

May 11, 2015 -- Ali Kofiro received the University of Wisconsin-River Falls College of Education and Professional Studies (CEPS) Outstanding Recent Alumnus Award May 5. Kofiro is both the first Somali school counselor in Minnesota and the first Somali graduate of UWRF's Counseling program. He graduated in 2010.

Kofiro, of Shakopee, Minn., received the award at the CEPS Spring Awards Reception and Program.In recognizing the former student, Mark Gillen, chair of the UWRF Counseling and School Psychology Department, called Kofiro a passionate school counselor and a role model for his students and colleagues.

"Ali is not only the first Somali licensed school counselor in Minnesota, but it is his passion for encouraging others to pursue school counseling training that sets him apart," Gillen said. "I honestly can't say how many students he has encouraged to apply to our school counseling program, but his influence on others is without parallel.

"Kofiro and his family fled Somali in 1991, shortly after the civil war broke out. The family lived in African refugee camps before Kofiro immigrated alone to the United States in 1996.

He enrolled at Minneapolis Community and Technical College before transferring to the University of Minnesota. In 2006, he earned a bachelor's degree in economics. Kofiro worked at Wellstone International High School, where UWRF alumni encouraged him to consider the university's counseling program.

In his remarks, Kofiro gave credit to Gillen and other faculty who pushed him to succeed.

"It means a lot to be honored by a university that has given me such a solid foundation," Kofiro said. "From this experience, I learned that perseverance and persistence pay off. I also learned that no matter how hard we work, every once in a while we need a helping hand to help us cross the bridge and reach our goals.

"Kofiro continues to counsel students at Wellstone International High School in Minneapolis.

For more information, contact Gillen at 715-425-3890 or email mark.gillen@uwrf.edu.

 

UW-River Falls College of Education and Professional Studies Dean Larry Solberg, left,
presented Ali Kofiro, right, with the 2015 Outstanding Recent Alumnus Award on May 5.