Labindra Singh Dhami flew from Nepal to soar at Morehead State
Labindra Singh Dhami's journey to becoming a student at Morehead State University led to many firsts.
A native of Darchula, Nepal, he was the first person in his immediate family to graduate high school. This also made him the first person in his family to attend college, and he chose to apply as an international student in the United States in the hopes of earning a full-ride scholarship.
After several weeks and multiple email inquiries with only a few responses, his message to Morehead State University was met with a response from Dr. Philip Krummrich, director of the George M. Luckey, Jr. Academic Honors Program, within a few hours.
"(This) was something I saw for the first time in my entire application journey," Dhami said. "I checked all the boxes and received the most prestigious Honors Scholarship. This was the No.1 reason for choosing MSU."
After taking his first-ever trip out of Nepal and his first plane ride, Dhami quickly found warm hospitality, consistent kindness and a second home as a Morehead State student.
"People here hold doors for each other, including someone they might not have seen before. All these simple yet kind gestures have made me feel a strong sense of community and inclusion," he said. "College can be overwhelming for a lot of people, especially if someone is a first-generation college student, plus an international student whose primary language is not even English. I think during moments when one feels lost, alienated, or experiences self-doubt, a strong sense of community makes life so much easier."
Thanks to the welcoming campus community, small class sizes and the ease of building personal relationships with his professors, Dhami was able to engage on campus and enhance his education in multiple ways.
As an incoming junior finance major, he is a member of both the Kentucky Society of Certified Public Accountants (KyCPA) and Phi Eta Sigma. Dhami also serves as the Student Advisory Board member for the Elmer R. Smith College of Business & Technology, as well as the membership officer for Beta Gamma Sigma.
Soon after arriving at MSU, Dhami began research work in November 2024 and started delivering presentations in 2025. He has delivered research presentations at the National Council on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), the Southern Regional Honors Council (SRHC), MSU's Celebration of Student Scholarship (CoSS), and the Kentucky Honors Roundtable (KHR).
Dhami also took classes through MSU's Level UP program, an initiative to ensure students can engage in real-world experiences while building in-demand career skills. Through two Level UP courses, he participated in undergraduate research while earning certifications in written and oral communication.
Outside of taking classes, conducting research and participating in student organizations, Dhami is also an author, having written two test preparation books by age 19: "IELTS Like Never Before: One Stop Destination to all Four IELTS Academic Papers" and "A Step-By-Step Guide to Master the SAT Verbal Section."
Currently, he has an internship offer with the Digital Marketing Institute, alongside faculty mentor Visiting Assistant Professor of Marketing Dr. Devin Lunt. In addition to working on a research project with him over the summer, he worked with the Upward Bound college preparatory program at MSU for the first part of Summer 2026.
When it comes to his approach to his Morehead State experience, Dhami said a motto from one of his professors has stuck with him as he continues to find new ways to soar as an Eagle.
"I had the fortune of being in (Associate Professor of Accounting) Dr. Stephen Brigham's Principles of Managerial Accounting class in Fall 2025. Out of many great things the learned man would say, one thing that resonated with me was, 'It's all about the learning, so never stop learning.'" Dhami said. "This has been a standout and my all-time favorite, which would be something I would remember for the rest of my life and pass on to other people as well, because at the end of the day, it really is all about the learning."
For more information on the Level UP program, contact the Center for Career Development & Experiential Education at levelup@moreheadstate.edu or 606-783-2233.
To learn more about programs in the Elmer R. Smith College of Business & Technology, email cbt@moreheadstate.edu or call 606-783-2174.
