Ling Finishes Swim Season with State Medals

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Defore and Ling Head to State

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Sixth Group of Scholars Announced

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Grace Explores Career Paths with Neeley Fellows

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Katherine Grace, Collegiate, 2023, had the opportunity to spend her fall break in New York City as part of the professional development journey of the Neeley Fellows Program at Texas Christian University (TCU). The Neeley Fellows program is an honors business program focused on enhancing students’ professional development, academic experience, and support network. The cohort comprises 30 undergraduates (top 3%) who attend career-focused weekly labs and MBA-level classes.

During the trip, Katherine engaged in networking with alums and business professionals, explored various career opportunities through site visits at Adobe, JP Morgan, Deloitte, NYSE, Google, Bloomberg, and more, and experienced life as a young professional in the city. Through this experience, the cohort built lasting relationships and enhanced the TCU Neeley Fellows program.

Katherine shared, “As I reflect on my time in New York, I’m incredibly grateful to the O’Shaughnessy Foundation for making this experience possible. Visiting these leading companies has alleviated my anxieties about the future and provided me with a clearer career path. This trip has ignited my passion for career exploration and motivated me to begin seeking internships and job opportunities.”

Brake Lands Job at Koch

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We’re thrilled to share that Benjamin Brake, Collegiate, 2020, has recently joined Koch Industries as an International Trade Analyst in Wichita, Kansas. As part of the International Trade Capabilities (ITC) team within the Koch Legal Capability, the ITC group serves as a central resource for various Koch subsidiaries, addressing issues related to trade regulations, including import/export, sanctions, and Know Your Customer (KYC).

Some of his current projects include facilitating daily railcar shipments to Mexico, revamping protocols for controlled technologies (EAR, ITAR), and conducting research related to the UFLPA.

Benjamin shared, “I’m impressed by the work culture and commitment to innovation in my team and across Koch. It’s exciting to be part of a company embracing change in the 21st century while remaining grounded in shared values.”

Looking ahead, Benjamin is also applying to law schools with plans to pursue a JD starting in Fall 2025 to further specialize in international trade and investment law.

Grace Returns from Tokyo

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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.”

Benjamin Brake joins Sijal Institute in trip to Jordan

Benjamin Brake joins Sijal Institute in trip to Jordan

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For the month of June, one of our scholars, Benjamin Brake has the exciting opportunity to utilize Timothy O’Shaughnessy’s scholarship to finance his trip to Jordan with Sijal Institute, a top-notch Arabic language program based in Jordan’s capital, Amman. After finishing his junior year, and prior to beginning his summer internship, Sijal will provide a truly immersive experience: language learning classes, as well as cultural orientation, all within Jordan’s sprawling capital. Coursework options include advanced formal language as well as local dialect training, as well as regular free time in the city.

 Ben has been studying the formal Arabic language for nearly three years now through Columbia’s Arabic language department. With many cousins and extended relations from Syria, he has long desired to study this challenging language and see how far he can take it.

 “All parties involved have been incredibly accommodating. I am especially grateful to the Timothy O’Shaughnessy Foundation for making this trip a reality. After a couple of years in a merely academic setting, and postponements due to Covid, I will now have the opportunity to put my studies to the test, all while expanding my cultural appreciation for a region of the world I have long hoped to explore.”