From LEAD MFA to Westminster School: Celebrating Dennis and Galima’s Journey

LEAD MFA alumni Dennis Quiwon and Galima Sonnah graduate from Westminster School and look ahead to the next chapter of their academic and football journeys.

Galima (left) and Dennis (right) with their diplomas at the Westminster graduation. 

On Saturday, May 23, LEAD MFA alumni Dennis Quiwon and Galima Sonnah graduated from Westminster School in Simsbury, Connecticut. Crossing the stage to receive their diplomas was a defining moment. It honored how far they had come and marked the beginning of a new, exciting chapter gleaming with possibility. The two alumni will continue their academic and football journeys at U.S. universities – Galima will attend Loyola Marymount University and Dennis is starting at Oberlin College this fall.

For all of us at LEAD, this moment is especially meaningful because we have watched Dennis and Galima grow over the years. We first met them in 2016 as 5th graders at LEAD Monrovia Football Academy in Liberia. In 2022, at 16 years old, they left behind their families and familiar routines when they were awarded full scholarships to Westminster School in Connecticut. This was a monumental transition that shaped them into who they are today. 

Galima (left) and Dennis (right) with their coaches on College Signing Day. 

Growing Through Transition

At LEAD MFA and Westminster, both students learned how to navigate environments that pushed them academically, athletically, and personally. They learned how to advocate for themselves, build relationships across cultures, and stay true to themselves. 

As a first-generation college student, Galima sees college as something much bigger than himself. “It’s not just about playing football,” he said. “It’s about opening doors for my future and proving that where I came from doesn’t limit where I can go.”

Dennis echoed a similar sentiment when reflecting on his own journey. “Playing soccer in college is a dream come true,” he said. “It tells me that all the hard work I’ve been putting in doesn’t go in vain.”

Those years of hard work extended far beyond training sessions and matches. Both students spoke candidly about the challenges of leaving home at a young age, adapting to new environments, and learning to grow through discomfort and uncertainty. For Dennis, one of the biggest lessons has been stepping outside his comfort zone. He’s learned that growth often starts with asking questions. Galima reflected on the importance of trusting the process through difficult moments, emphasizing that challenges are a natural part of growth and do not define who you are.

Lessons Beyond the Pitch

Football has played a major role in shaping them as young leaders. 

Galima described the game as one of his greatest teachers, a space where he learned discipline, resilience, accountability, and humility – traits he can apply to his everyday life.

“It has taught me how to handle failure in a positive way,” he explained. “To see failure as a stepping stone. And I’ve learned that consistency and effort matter more than just talent.”

As a goalkeeper, Dennis has learned about leadership through communication and responsibility. “Being a leader is not about putting yourself first,” he said. “It’s about putting the team first, because nobody is bigger than the team.”

What’s Next as Leaders

Both students look forward to what lays ahead as college students. Galima is excited about building relationships with his coaches and teammates at LMU, meeting people from different backgrounds, and exploring new opportunities in Los Angeles. He hopes to eventually build a career in business, with a growing interest in real estate. Dennis is looking forward to continuing his growth both academically and athletically while studying economics and building new relationships on campus.

They are also looking forward to continuing to grow into leaders who are kind, trusting, and dependable. Dennis explained, “I want to be the person people feel comfortable around. Someone dependable.” Galima added, “I want people to feel like they can rely on me when they’re going through difficult moments.”

Their answers felt deeply connected to the communities that helped shape them. Both students emphasized the importance of paying opportunities forward, recognizing that they, too, were supported and uplifted along the way. “That’s how we got our opportunity,” Dennis explained. “People lifted us up, so we’re trying to do the same for other people too.”

For all of us at LEAD, Dennis and Galima’s graduation is a reminder of what becomes possible when young people are given the opportunity, support, and community they deserve.

We are incredibly proud of the leaders they have become, and even more excited for everything that lies ahead.