Scholarship honors legacy of James and Margaret Karugu

New scholarship celebrates the transformative power of education and supports future generations of student leaders

The James and Margaret Karugu Scholarship honors the legacy of two pioneering public servants whose lives demonstrated the transformative power of education, leadership and service.

Established by Dr. Victoria Nyambura Karugu on behalf of their four children, the scholarship recognizes the remarkable achievements of James Karugu ’62 and Margaret Waithira Karugu while creating opportunities for future generations of students to pursue life-changing educational experiences.

More than six decades ago, James Karugu became the first Kenyan to graduate from Bowling Green State University. His journey from rural Kenya to BGSU and later to national leadership exemplifies the profound impact that access to education can have on an individual's life and on society as a whole.

The scholarship also honors Margaret Waithira Karugu, an accomplished educator, diplomat and public servant whose life reflected the same commitment to excellence and service. After excelling academically at Alliance Girls High School in Kenya, she traveled to the United States in 1958 to pursue higher education at Western College for Women in Oxford, Ohio. She earned a bachelor's degree in history in 1962 before returning to Kenya, where she served as a teacher, worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Kenya's Mission to the United Nations in New York, and later became one of the first female Under Secretaries in the government of Kenya.

Together, James and Margaret Karugu embodied the opportunities made possible through education and international exchange. Their careers in public service, leadership and community development left a lasting impact on Kenya and inspired future generations of their family and many others in the larger community.

The scholarship will support outstanding undergraduate and graduate students who demonstrate academic excellence, financial need and a commitment to leadership and service. Eligible recipients must maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA.

In reflecting on his experience at Bowling Green, James Karugu once said:

"I must take this opportunity to record my deep, profound and heartfelt gratitude to BGSU, not only for hosting me as a foreign student but in changing my life completely, from a village herd boy to a successful lawyer and farmer."

James Karugu earned his degree in political science from Bowling Green in 1962 before pursuing legal studies in London. Upon returning to Kenya, he built a distinguished legal career and was appointed Kenya's second attorney general in 1980. Widely respected for his integrity and commitment to public service, he played an important role in strengthening Kenya's legal institutions during a formative period in the nation's history.

Following his public service career, Karugu devoted himself to agriculture and entrepreneurship. Together with Margaret, they purchased Kiamara Estate in 1974, and it grew to become one of Kenya's most respected coffee farms. Coffee from their farm was served at BGSU’s Centennial Alumni Awards gala in 2010 at the Bowen-Thompson Student Union.

In recognition of his accomplishments and service, Bowling Green State University named James Karugu among its top 100 Alumni in 2010. In 2024, the University posthumously awarded him an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree, recognizing his exceptional contributions to the legal profession, his unwavering commitment to justice and his enduring legacy of leadership and service. He truly embodied one of BGSU’s mantras of educating the world by degrees.

Through the James and Margaret Karugu Scholarship, the Karugu family hopes to ensure that future generations of students have access to the same transformative educational opportunities that changed the lives of both James and Margaret Karugu and enabled them to make lasting contributions to their country, community and the world.