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Transitioning from high school to college can be challenging for anyone, but especially if the high school you went to was 8,000 miles away.

Random Nisia, a sophomore mechanical engineering major from Papua New Guinea, freely admits that his first year at South Dakota State University was tough, not so much from an academic standpoint — he had a 3.5 GPA — but from an emotional standpoint.

“Being far from home and having to do everything independently was challenging. … Living far away in a new country” brought some homesickness. “You just wanted to be next to the ones you love,” said Nisia, who left behind four siblings and his parents when he arrived in Brookings in August 2023 with 31 others from his tropical Pacific island country.

As for the current school year, Nisia said, “Right now I’m here and moving forward and trying to be better.”

He continues to focus on academics. On Nov. 5, he was selected to be in the third class of Future Innovators of America. The fellowships were created by the Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering to provide unique research opportunities for undergraduate students in the college. Any student is eligible to apply as long as they are attending full time and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Recipients are awarded $5,000 with $4,500 as a stipend and $500 to cover the cost of lab supplies or travel to disseminate the results of their project. 

Becomes Future Innovator

Nisia said he saw a sign on a bulletin board advertising the fellowships and decided to apply because he saw it as a way to learn new laboratory techniques and improve his resume. Also, he was interested in the topic being pursued by Solaiman Tarafder, an assistant professor in mechanical engineering.

Tarafder aims to develop an off-the-shelf, self-sealing patch graft that can be applied to articular cartilage defects without the need for suturing.

“Our approach leverages the adhesive properties of hydrophilic polydopamine, inspired by the adhesive properties of marine mussels. This innovative graft is designed to anchor securely at the defect site while promoting the differentiation of endogenous stem/progenitor cells, resulting in biomechanically functional cartilage repair. 

“Success of this project will provide a transformative option for cartilage repair, benefiting patients and health care providers,” Tarafder said.

Tarafder’s research extends to a range of tissue engineering and regenerative strategies. “Currently in my lab we are developing effective solutions for meniscus tears healing, bone-to-tendon interface repair, and cartilage healing,” he noted. 

“This innovative work represents a significant step forward in addressing critical challenges in tissue repair and regeneration with the potential to improve the lives of millions of patients” Tarafder said.

Nisia will meet later in January with Tarafder and others on his research team to learn what his duties will be.

Happy to study at ������Ƶ

While there are still aspects of home he misses, Nisia said he has been happy with his experience at ������Ƶ. “The people are very warm, very friendly, very down-to-earth people. It’s fresh air. The learning environment here is very nice, top notch. I’m privileged to be here,” Nisia said.

Indeed, he is privileged to be studying here. 

Papua New Guinea, a former Australian territory, is seeking to grow its STEM-trained populace. A select group of Papua New Guinea students were given an opportunity to take a competitive exam in their final year of high school.

Based on the exam results, about 50 students were chosen to attend a U.S. school. The Papua New Guinea students said their admission requests were sent to a number of U.S. universities, including Pensacola Christian Academy in Florida and Marshall University in West Virginia. Because ������Ƶ was the first to respond, most came here.

There are another 13 students at Nicholls State University in Louisiana, and a few students choose to stay in Papua New Guinea.

Warmly welcomed in South Dakota

In 2024-25, a group of 49 came to ������Ƶ, and they have benefitted from the mentoring of the 2023-24 crop of Papua New Guinea enrollees. 

Nisia said his introduction to America was eased by his roommate, Andrew Dally, of Sioux Falls, and his family. For Thanksgiving 2023, he went to Dally’s grandparents’ farm at Orient and got to ride in a combine and see their cattle. At Christmas, Dally’s mother and her co-worker organized a gift drive for all the Papua New Guinea students, none of whom could go home for Christmas.

He notes that all but two of the original group from Papua New Guinea are still students at ������Ƶ.

The Ben Reifel Hall resident said he has made casual friends with American students, and last year a Japanese exchange student actually learned the common Papua New Guinea language.

English is the official language of Papua New Guinea, but hundreds of native languages are spoken in addition to an English-based creole that is the most widely spoken.

U.S. technology has been an adjustment

The all-encompassing use of technology in America also has been an adjustment for Nisia. “Back home, we’re in a Third World. Life is a bit simpler, how everything is structured. In terms of school, technology is not that developed. Out here everything is online. At home, it is on paper … Here, everything is a click of a button,” said Nisia, who added he recently got his U.S. Social Security card.

He said he found the need for ID cards here a cultural shock. “Trying to understand it is a bit hard,” Nisia said.

In addition to schoolwork, Nisia has been working part time for Facilities and Services at First Bank & Trust Arena since Nov. 12.

He is on target to graduate in May 2027, and that’s where his focus is. He doesn’t have postgraduation plans.

“Right now, I’m just working on securing my degree and perhaps pursuing an internship. Coming here is a very new environment. I’m grateful I’ve got to meet good people and learn new things.”