abroad

Phipps Returns From Germany

This summer, Toller Phipps, Heights High, 2022, had the opportunity to participate in the Daad RISE Germany program, a prestigious internship for undergraduate students from the United States, Canada, and the UK. Through this program, he spent three months in Kaiserslautern, Germany, conducting device research under the mentorship of a dedicated graduate student. As a RISE intern, Toller collaborated with a research group at a top German university, gaining valuable insights and practical skills in electrical engineering.

In addition to his research work, Toller had the chance to explore Europe, traveling to eight countries he had never been to. His favorite parts of the summer included attending the Olympics and watching England play in a Euro 2024 soccer game.

Toller noted, “I want to express my sincere gratitude to the Timothy O’Shaughnessy Foundation and Family for their generous support of my recent summer internship in Kaiserslautern, Germany. Their scholarship funds were instrumental in making this invaluable experience possible. I am truly grateful for the Foundation’s commitment to fostering academic excellence and providing opportunities for students like me. This summer was not only a period of academic and professional growth but also a time of personal enrichment and cultural exploration.”

Grace Returns from Tokyo

abroad

Katherine Grace, Collegiate, 2023, recently wrapped up her freshman year at Texas Christian University. She was provided the opportunity to travel abroad to Tokyo, Japan, where she took an Honors College course called ‘Video Games and Culture.’ This unique course took her on a journey through various districts of Tokyo and even to Kyoto, exploring the impact of video games on Japanese culture – a topic with far more influence in Japan than in the United States.

The hands-on learning experience included interactions with students at the world’s top video game high school and creating her own video game, which she presented as her final project. Beyond video games, Katherine participated in calligraphy sessions, observed a sacred Japanese tea ceremony, and visited over fifteen temples and places of worship, making ethnographic observations along the way.

Reflecting on her experience, Katherine shared, “The O’Shaughnessy Foundation granted me a transformative opportunity. It was an incredible experience that broadened my perspective on the world around me. From making ethnographic observations to analyzing the influence of video games on Japanese culture, I stamped my passport in a new and unique way. It was an action-packed trip that stimulated my intellectual curiosity and fostered an intense desire to be a lifelong learner. I am profoundly grateful to the O’Shaughnessy Foundation for making this trip possible.”