Carrying the Legacy Forward

For Ekua Mends-Aidoo, every step she takes is guided by the people who came before her. With Ghanaian heritage on her father’s side and African American roots on her mother’s, she sees her educational and personal journey as part of a much bigger story—one she hopes will inspire the next generation. This is her True Blue story.

Mends-Aidoo chose UB partly because it felt familiar—close to her hometown of Syracuse—and partly because of an opportunity she couldn’t ignore: joining the Division I track and field team. For her first two years, she competed as a thrower, learning discipline, resilience and teamwork. But she also felt a shift coming. "I’m not going to be an Olympian," she recalls with a laugh, recognizing it was time to explore new passions.

Stepping outside athletics opened unexpected doors. She immersed herself in student organizations like the Black Student Union, where she met peers who shared her drive to create change. UB’s campus became a learning ground for leadership, cultural exploration, and community building. Those early experiences, shaped the leader she is today.

One of the most pivotal opportunities came through the mayor’s summer youth program. While supervising younger participants, she helped clean and beautify Buffalo neighborhoods. The experience connected her with residents, block clubs, and civic organizations—people who cared deeply about their community. It was during this time she fell in love with the city.

That passion now fuels her career, where she advocates for underrepresented communities and brings the same spirit of service she discovered at UB. The university, she says, didn’t just prepare her academically, it helped her grow into someone who leads with purpose and compassion. "There are tools you take from school that you’ll use for the rest of your life," she reflects. "And those stay with you forever."

True Blue isn’t just a color—it’s a connection. It’s the determination students carry into their careers and the loyalty alumni bring back home. The series celebrates UB Bulls who are shaping their communities, making their mark around the world and showing what it means to live with pride, purpose and passion. Watch Mends-Aidoo tell her True Blue story.