Mallory Thompson ’25 Fulfills Spanish Minor During Summer in Seville, Spain Mallory Thompson saw firsthand the impact of
destination, so much so that she pursued a Spanish minor alongside her public relations major. She applied for the Shaheen Scholars Grant to help cover the cost of a month-long trip. Receiving the grant meant she could worry more about overpacking and less about finances. “One of the biggest challenges to studying abroad is the expense, so having people willing to sponsor scholarships like the Shaheen Scholars Grant is so beneficial for UIndy students,” said Thompson. “I would 100% recommend this grant to anyone in the Shaheen College who wants to study abroad.” ››
studying abroad as a student worker at the Christel DeHaan Center for Global Engagement. Students of all majors and years would visit the Center to find travel opportunities and plan their trips. “Being able to see so many students throughout their study abroad process—from signing up to when they returned home—living out that dream was very cool,” said Thompson. “They seem to come back as different people. Seeing other people’s experiences led me to study abroad myself.” Spain had always been Thompson’s dream
Danni Conn ’25 Becomes First in Family to Travel Internationally with Trip to South Korea
Danni Conn’s UIndy experience has been marked by a series of ‘firsts.’ He’s the first in his family to attend college, the first to get a passport, and now, the first to travel internationally—thanks to the Shaheen Scholars Grant. “I would have done whatever I could to make the trip happen without the grant, but it would have been nearly impossible to go to South Korea without it,” Conn explained.
Stepping off the plane was a moment he’ll never forget. “It was surreal,” he said. “I landed at the airport and just stopped for a minute to take it all in. It was such an amazing feeling to finally have all that planning pay off.” In the weeks before his trip, Conn immersed
Conn’s journey took him across the Pacific Ocean—his first-ever flight—to Seoul, where he studied at Korea University for a semester. himself in Korean culture and prepared as best he could. He soon realized he’d also be spending his 21st birthday abroad and worried he’d be celebrating alone. However, he quickly connected with new friends who made it a memorable night. ›› Marie Castelly ’25 Studies in Austria for Senior Year
Marie Castelly made history as one of the first Greyhounds in recent years to study abroad for an entire academic year—but that wasn’t part of her original plan. She traveled to Austria to study at Salzburg College, immersing herself in the life of a typical Austrian college student. For three months, she navigated a new culture, embraced the language, and explored the country. But an unexpected conversation changed everything. During an excursion, a group supervisor mentioned that another student had extended
their stay—something Castelly hadn’t realized was even possible. The idea intrigued her. After asking questions and weighing her options, she made a bold decision: she would stay for another semester. The Shaheen Scholars Grant made that leap possible. “I don’t think I could have extended my stay if I hadn’t received the grant,” Castelly said. “I was able to use it to cover my application and processing fees, textbooks, and the costs of settling in.” ››
›› ALL THREE STUDENT STORIES CONTINUE ON PAGE 39
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MAGAZINE // SPRING 2025
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