By: Belinda Nketia
Alexander Tawiah, a first-generation international student from Ghana, has made history as the first international and African student to graduate as the top student in the Master of Arts in Mass Communication programme at Texas State University.
His achievement was officially announced on April 29, 2025, when the School of Journalism and Mass Communication honoured him as the top graduate of the class.
In addition to the Top Student award, he was named Outstanding Graduate Student by the College of Fine Arts and Communication and was recognized by the university’s International Office for mentoring new international students.
The Graduate College also honoured him for his service as a student government representative. These recognitions highlight a journey marked by academic excellence, leadership, and dedication to community service.
Tawiah’s research on social media campaign strategies in Ghana’s 2024 presidential elections was published in the Journalism and Media (MDPI) journal (read here).
His work, exploring how digital platforms shape public perception, also earned him the Top Paper Award in the International Communication Division’s student competition at the 2025 AEJMC National Conference in San Francisco, California.
His academic journey began at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), where he earned a degree in History in 2022.
As an undergraduate, Tawiah founded Thriller News GH, a student-run digital media platform that quickly became one of the most recognised outlets on campus.
Through the initiative, he trained over 20 student journalists in digital storytelling, photography, and video production.
His efforts earned him the Student Entrepreneur of the Year award from the Department of History, as well as Best Student Blogger and Writer at the Ghana Student Awards. Thriller News GH was also named Best Student Media House by the Faculty of Social Sciences in 2021.
Reflecting on his journey, Tawiah credited his success to the support of professors, colleagues, and mentors.
“The journey hasn’t been easy as a first-generation international student. But these awards and honors reflect the time, effort, sacrifices, passion, and dedication I have invested in my education, professional growth, and service to the community,” he said.
“As the African proverb says, ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’ I have come this far not because I am extraordinary, but because I have been surrounded by people who offered the encouragement and support I needed to succeed.”
Building on his achievements, Tawiah has launched InteractiveMediaSkills.com, an online learning platform aimed at equipping students and young professionals with digital skills for today’s media landscape.
