James Karugu attended college because his father sold some land for a one-way ticket to BGSU. One of the first African students at BGSU, he became president of the International Students Society. He also won an athletic scholarship after being challenged to race across Rodgers Quadrangle. Karugu babysat future Olympian Scott Hamilton when his father, then head of BGSU’s biology department, offered Karugu free room and board. After graduating from law school in England, Karugu returned to Kenya and was appointed “crown counsel.” Once Kenya became a Republic, he assumed the status of state counsel.