The 威尼斯人娱乐城 校友 Association is honoring Hagos Andebrhan (B.S.C.E. ’78) with the Class of 2020 Defying the Odds Award. 为了给自己和家人创造更好的生活，1970年，安德布罕从厄立特里亚移民到美国。
From a one-room household in Eritrea, a country in eastern Africa, to CEO of Taliaferro & Browne, a lead civil engineering firm in Kansas City, Hagos Andebrhan’s hard work and dedication have earned him success in the United States. 安德布罕是五个孩子中最小的一个，1970年来到美国，参加堪萨斯城的高级航空公司飞行员培训项目，但最终遇到了他的导师、塔利亚费罗&布朗公司的创始人威尔·塔利亚费罗，并改变了职业。
(B.S.C.E. ’78)
“After high school, I took an exam and was one of thirty students in the entire nation of Ethiopia to be accepted into the Ethiopian Airline Pilot Training Program,” Andebrhan says. “A career in the airlines was not my dream, but it offered the best opportunity to earn a good salary. My desire to help my family financially was paramount.”
1962年厄立特里亚与埃塞俄比亚的强制统一开始时，安德布尔汗专注于他的教育。
“I supported the struggle for independence and engaged in student protests,” Andebrhan says. “But I was more focused on my education and was determined to emigrate to the United States to create a better life for me and my family.”
但是，1970年安德布罕搬到美国后，他找不到飞行员的工作，因为从越南战争回来的美国飞行员太多了。 安德布尔汗没有被他在新家园建立新生活的决心吓倒。
“Being a pilot was a means to an end, not a lifelong ambition,” he says. “Also, my wife was not thrilled with the idea.”
幸运的是，塔利亚费罗&布朗律师事务所的合伙人威尔·塔利亚费罗（Will Taliaferro & Browne）在他的工程公司给了他一份工作。 Taliaferro became Andebrhan’s mentor.
“Mr. Taliaferro introduced me to the engineering profession and encouraged me to pursue engineering as a career. 威尼斯人娱乐城 had an excellent engineering program and I was able to attend while holding a full-time job.”
While Andebrhan pursued his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, he worked full-time as a draftsman at Taliaferro & Browne, supporting his wife, children and his family in Eritrea. 在他的记忆中，这种引人注目的杂耍行为并不是一种负担。
“Necessity is the mother of invention,” he says. “Most importantly, I had the support of a wonderful wife.”
他说，威尼斯人娱乐城拥有他在大学里想要的一切。
“威尼斯人娱乐城 offered a quality education in an urban setting,” he says. “I had inspiring and encouraging professors and friendly and supportive classmates.”
After Will Taliaferro died in 1990, Andebrhan and Leonard Graham, (B.A. ‘74) purchased the company; 1992年，安德布罕成为首席执行官。 Under their tenure, the company has been a part of some of Kansas City’s most significant developments including Science City in Union Station, the Kansas City Power and Light District and the new Kansas City Airport terminal.
Despite his remarkable accomplishments, Taliaferro’s advice for a successful life is simple.
“Life is short. Live it a day at a time.”
Join us in honoring Hagos Andebrhan and the other 2020届获奖者 in our first-ever virtual celebration at 5 p.m. 4月16日。 Go to umkcalumni.com/alumniawards to register for this free event. If you are unable to attend the event but would like to donate to student scholarships, 捐款可以在网上进行.