STORM LAKE, Iowa (AP) — Five siblings gathered in Storm Lake this weekend to watch their youngest brother graduate from high school, decades after their parents emigrated from war-torn Sudan to the United States. The Sioux City Journal reports Cham Deng received his diploma Sunday from Storm Lake High School with a 3.4 grade point average, which ranks the first generation Sudanese-American 28th in his class of 190 students.

Deng also played basketball for the Tornadoes, averaging 17 points and nine rebounds per game during his senior season. He intends to further his basketball career next season at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge. Deng plans to major in accounting. Storm Lake Superintendent Stacey Cole says that Deng is community-minded and has been a positive inspiration at the school.