Caroline Kuglich

Caroline’s Background
Caroline Kuglich was born in Chicago, IL, and is an only child. Her father has worked at Koch Industries for thirty-five years, holding various leadership roles, while her mother has served in multiple school districts for over ten years, currently working in the Goddard school district. At eight years old, Caroline moved to Singapore for her father’s job, living there for six years until she completed middle school. She then relocated to Wichita, KS, to attend Wichita Collegiate School at the start of her freshman year. During her sophomore year, she adopted a beloved cat named Penny.

Linguistic Experiences
From a young age, Caroline has immersed herself in diverse cultures and languages. Her childhood in Singapore exposed her to a vibrant mix of nationalities, with friends from India, Japan, and China. She was fascinated by Singapore’s four national languages, particularly Chinese, which she began studying in second grade and continued through eighth grade. She learned in classrooms painted lucky red, filled with citrus scents and lively energy. Caroline continued her Chinese studies during high school, excelling in increasingly difficult courses. She co-founded a Chinese club that hosts bi-weekly meetings highlighting Chinese culture, food, and customs. Caroline plans to pursue a minor in Chinese in college and hopes to travel abroad to a city in China, such as Beijing.

Academic Achievements
Caroline values growing her knowledge, especially in STEM fields. At Wichita Collegiate School, she consistently chose rigorous courses, such as AP Physics and AP Calculus AB as a sophomore. She held leadership positions in academic clubs like Scholars Bowl and Math Club. Caroline believes that knowledge shapes every aspect of life and that overcoming challenges is essential to discovering one’s identity and values.

Extracurricular Activities
Caroline participated in four sports during high school. She played varsity tennis for three years, joined the golf team her junior year, and took part in Color Guard as a senior. Her primary athletic focus was bowling, where she averaged 165 pins in her senior year and set the school’s women’s all-time high game and series records. She qualified for the state tournament twice, placing 10th as a sophomore and 20th as a senior. As a four-year varsity bowler and team captain her senior year, Caroline led her team to a school-best 6th place finish at state.

Future Plans
As she starts college, Caroline intends to pursue a civil engineering degree with a minor in Chinese or Business, and eventually earn a master’s degree in engineering project management through a 4+1 program. She looks forward to the challenges of civil engineering, knowing that the infrastructure she designs will connect people and improve their lives. Caroline is motivated by the opportunity to contribute to communities and make a positive impact every day.

Recognition and Gratitude
Caroline is extremely grateful to be named a Timothy O’Shaughnessy Foundation scholar and to receive the lifelong learning scholarship. She strives to embody the values of Timothy himself—intellectual curiosity, leadership, worldly interests in languages, and an exploratory spirit. With the foundation’s support, Caroline hopes to conquer new challenges, discover the world’s beauty, and uplift communities through her work.