One of Ghana's best-known young science stars has earned another honour abroad. Benjamin Nketsiah, a member of the Presbyterian Boys' Secondary School (PRESEC), Legon team that won the 2020 National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ), has been selected for the Homecoming Court at Michigan State University (MSU) in the United States, according to a report by YEN.com.gh.
The Homecoming Court is one of MSU's highest student honours, featuring 10 to 12 graduating seniors each year, YEN.com.gh reports. Members are typically chosen for strong campus involvement, leadership and positive contributions to university life.
Nketsiah, who is in his final year, announced the selection on Instagram on October 19, 2026. He described it as "the honour of being selected as a member of our Homecoming Court."
"Grateful to God, my Spartan community, and everyone who has made this journey possible," he wrote.
According to the report, Nketsiah studies Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in MSU's College of Natural Science and its Honors College.
YEN.com.gh previously reported that he received MSU's Honors Giving Back Award for an artificial intelligence project aimed at improving cancer detection and care for West African women, showing how he has combined his science training with a focus on health challenges at home.
Nketsiah first came to national attention as part of PRESEC's 2020 NSMQ-winning team. The NSMQ is Ghana's most popular academic competition, in which teams of senior high school students compete in fast-paced rounds of science and mathematics questions. Broadcast on national television, it attracts huge audiences, and its stars often become household names.
PRESEC, Legon, is one of the most successful schools in the competition's history, with multiple titles to its name. The school's NSMQ champions have gone on to study at leading universities in Ghana and abroad.
Many former NSMQ contestants go on to study science, engineering and medicine at international universities, often on scholarships. Their achievements are closely followed at home, where fans who cheered them on television celebrate each new milestone.
Nketsiah's selection to the Homecoming Court is notable because it recognises not just academic performance but also leadership and contribution to campus life, showing how Ghanaian students are making their mark in many areas abroad.
Homecoming is a long-standing tradition at American universities, usually held in the autumn. It brings alumni back to campus for a week of events, often built around a football game, parades and celebrations. At MSU, the Homecoming Court is presented to the university community as a group of students who represent the best of the institution.
According to YEN.com.gh, MSU's homecoming week began on October 5.
The United States is one of the most popular destinations for Ghanaian students studying abroad, especially in science, technology, engineering and medicine. Many receive scholarships from universities, foundations and programmes that support talented students from Africa. Their success abroad often opens doors for others, as universities build links with Ghanaian schools and recruit more students from the country.
For senior high school students preparing for the NSMQ and other academic competitions, Nketsiah's journey from the quiz stage to an American university's top student honours is a strong example of where hard work and academic excellence can lead.
It also comes at a time of renewed national focus on science education, with Ghanaian universities and the Ministry of Education investing in digital skills and artificial intelligence training for students.
As he completes his final year, fans at home will be watching to see where his studies and research take him next.
