Good Chemistry
George Barker '20 used both of his majors, computer science and chemistry, to help build a website that makes a challenging subject more approachable for students.
Summer Opportunity
Diving into Research
This summer, Ginny Johnson '20 served as a peer mentor to nine rising sophomores as part of the Keck Geology Consortium trip to Belize, where Professor Lisa Greer continued her research project into the staghorn coral population.
The Write Stuff
Maya Lora has always wanted to be a storyteller for public good. This summer, she did just that as a reporting intern for her hometown paper, the Miami Herald.
A World of Difference
The Cape Town Program, a partnership between the Williams School and the Shepherd Program, provides students with an interdisciplinary experience they'll never forget.
Thriving On New Turf
As the only intern for the Arena Football League's communications coordinator, journalism major Jimmie Johnson '20 has been able to pitch and create his own multimedia content.
In Case You Missed It
London Calling
For students like Lourdes Arana '21, the London Internship Program combines course work, internships and alumni support to create an unforgettable educational experience.
Getting Their Start in Art
For Darcy Olmstead '21 and Lindsey Hewitt '21, analyzing art in the Netherlands and the U.S. with Professor Erich Uffelman has been an educational 'dream come true.'
A Goal in Mind
Working with ICU patients at Vanderbilt University Medical Center through the Allen Grant has reaffirmed neuroscience major Laney Smith's desire to become a surgeon.
Adventures in Arabic
Four Washington and Lee University students are spending time this summer in Beirut, where they are immersed in Arabic language and Lebanese culture.
Lunch with a Side of Love
Through coursework and connections, Hannah Archer '20 helped to create a school food service program to ensure that local children have enough to eat during the summer.
Lexi Baumeyer ’22 Featured in News Story
Baumeyer is working this summer as a SHECP intern in Charleston, West Virginia.
‘Intellectual Curiosity Without Boundaries’
James Ricks '21 is spending the summer working for The Oda Foundation in Nepal, where he is researching tobacco use and working with children to create a mural that represents health in their town.
‘You Won’t Want to Leave’
At W&L;, a combination of incredible courses, extracurricular opportunities and a warm community made for an experience Will Shannon '19 calls "uniquely mine."
In Their Own Words
MaKayla Lorick '19 is collecting oral histories from African-American alumni, faculty and staff as part of a project that aims to include those missing perspectives in Washington and Lee University's history of desegregation and integration.
Passion Points to the Perfect Profession
Hannah Denham '20 has combined business journalism with women and gender studies at W&L; to create a liberal arts education that suits her interests and ambition.
Beyond One Summer
Zainab Abiza ’19 studied at Princeton and spent time in Rabat, Morocco, with a Davis Projects for Peace grant. This semester, she's working to expand her Davis project.
On Numbers and Notes
Whether he's working with the Williams Investment Society or playing jazz guitar, Joe Wen '19 makes the most of his W&L; experience.
‘Fight for Change and Progress’
Dannick Kenon '19, who plans to attend law school and devote his career to positive social change, has co-founded a new student publication at W&L; called The Vigil.
‘Catapulted into a New Country’
After spending the summer teaching and exploring in Costa Rica, Taylor Casey '20 can't wait to return.
Eye on the Ball
Washington Term, study abroad opportunities and internships—including one with the Philadelphia Eagles—have helped to shape Jason Renner's plans for the future.
Studying Neuroscience Down Under
Megan Engeland '19 spent her summer in a research laboratory in the psychology department at the University of Sydney in Australia.
‘College is More Than Earning a Degree’
Whether she's leading the Student Association for Black Unity, acting in a play or volunteering in the community as a Bonner Scholar, Sasha Edwards '20 is ever mindful that education can happen anywhere.
Taking Independence to a New Level
Caroline Caruso '21 loved Costa Rica so much that she wants to open a medical practice there after graduate school.
‘My Time in Nicoya’
Daniel Rhoades '19 spent the summer immersed in the language and culture of Costa Rica.
Culture and Communication in Costa Rica
Language and culture courses at W&L; prepared Marissa Miller '21 for a fun, educational trip to Nicoya, where she met the vice president of Costa Rica (left, center).
Nothing like a Password: Trial and Resilience in the American Asylum System
Anne Rodgers '20 completed a 2018 summer internship with Asylee Women Enterprise (AWE) through the Shepherd Program. These are her reflections.
Studying Medicine in Pakistan
A grant from the Endeavor Foundation allowed Midha Ahmad '21 and Sawera Khan '21 to spend the summer in Pakistan, where they compared alternative medicine to traditional treatment.
Confronting Cancer with Research
Erin An '19 has spent time this summer researching immunotherapy treatments for pediatric cancer at the University of Virginia.
Opening New Doors
Catherine Savoca ’19 explored the real estate development industry this summer as a sales and marketing intern in Lisbon, Portugal.
Summer in Kyrgyzstan
The Critical Language Scholarship Program has allowed Riley Ries '19 to strengthen his Russian and learn more about politics and culture in Kyrgyzstan.
A Classical Career
While digging at the Athenian Agora Excavation in Greece this summer, Allison Schuster '19 indulged her passion for archaeology and classics.
Practical Tools for the Future
Yoko Koyama '19 put her W&L; learning to work this summer at National Instruments Japan.
Growing in German
Jackson Ellis '19 is working with a German consulting agency to help international student-athletes navigate the college application process.
Informed by Child’s Play
This summer, Davis Straske '19 is researching children's play in psychology professor Megan Fulcher's Gender Development Lab.
‘Many Different Perspectives’
Students in the Cape Town Summer Internship Program gain professional experience and a better understanding of South Africa’s culture.
Where Math Meets Art
Xinxian Wang '21 was able to marry two interests in an internship with The Visual Arts Center in Richmond.
Sustainability in Stockholm
During a four-week internship with Enact Sustainable Strategies in Stockholm, Julia Carullo '20 has been inspired by Sweden's dedication to sustainability in business practices.
Three W&L Students Awarded 2018 Critical Language Scholarships
Elizabeth McDonald heads to Japan, Emily Austin to Indonesia and Riley Ries to Kyrgyzstan.
Ready for the Next Adventure
As she prepares to work for the Equality of Opportunity Project, Amanda Wahlers '18 is grateful for the education, opportunities and research experience she has had in Lexington.
Shely Awarded Fulbright Grant to Colombia
Jared Shely '18 will use the grant to continue his work teaching English to students in Latin America.
Falchuk ’18 Awarded Fulbright to Teach in Slovak Republic
Hannah Falchuk '18 hopes to improve her cultural understanding and language proficiency in the country.
Elizabeth Mugo ’19 Awarded Public Policy and International Affairs Fellowship
Mugo will attend the Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute at the Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon.
Oh, the Places They Went!
Whether doing research on campus or traveling across the world for internships and projects, W&L; students made the most of summer 2017. In the new year, we invite you to take a look back at everything they accomplished.
Connecting the Dots of the Liberal Arts
Monica Musgrave '18 is already double-majoring, but that didn't stop her from spending six-weeks in England studying two completely different subjects.
In the Belly of the Beast
Skyler T. Zunk ’19 was an intern at the White House's Office of Political Affairs.
Researching Beyond the Library
The best place to research your thesis? Some would say the library, but for Jacqueline Moruzzi '18 that place is the Cambridge University's Medieval Studies Summer Program.
Healthcare and Community in Ecuador
Jackson Roberts '19 had the opportunity to intern in Quito, Ecuador, exploring local customs, becoming part of the community, and learning the ins and outs of healthcare.
Persistent in Pursuit of Answers
Kathryn E. Young '19 got a Reynolds Business Scholarship that allowed her to intern at her hometown newspaper, the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Big Stories in the Small City
As a general assignment intern at The Roanoke Times, Rachel Hicks '19 learned how to be firm with difficult sources.
Small Company, Big Internship
Marta Regn ’19 used her internship to throughly explore all aspects of a sustainable, ethical jewelry startup.
The Art of Movement
A three-month internship with New York-based artist Taryn Simon presented Sara Dotterer '18 with myriad possibilities for her future career.
Better Business in Boston
Katrina Lewis' business reporting internship took her to the Boston Business Journal, where she covered real estate news and development.
Funding Hope in Memphis
Vicky Kazmierczak '18 spent the summer in Memphis, learning the ins and outs of non-profit work — and how to hope.
A Study of Song
A grant from the Endeavor Foundation allowed Xiaoxia Yin '20 and Sesha Carrier '20 to study traditional folk singing in China.
Putting Lessons to the Test
Caroline Blackmon interned this summer with The Dunwoody Crier in Georgia.
‘Grateful Every Step of the Way’
Over 1,200 miles of biking and hiking trails led Ralston Hartness '18 from Spain to Ireland, discovering the meaning of pilgrimage along the way.
Language and Life Lessons in Chile
Alex Meilech '18 spent the summer in Santiago, Chile, learning the language, exploring the culture, and caring for the people of the country.
Getting Ahead in the Garment District
Julia Kaczmar '19 spent a summer in New York City, learning the logistics of the latest fashions.
‘Dream Team’ Recreates 15th-Century Florence
Professor George Bent and his team of students are working on a digital recreation of Florence that Bent describes as the “project of his career.”
The World of Business Journalism
Abigail Summerville '19, a business journalism major, interned on the CNBC.com breaking news desk.
W&L Students Travel to India and Japan with U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholarship Program
Sierra Noland studied Hindi in Jaipur, India while Tara Cooper studied Japanese in Hikone, Japan.
Art in the City
Mandy Witherspoon ’18 combined her love of art with her expertise in business at the Baltimore Museum of Art.
Summer at Oxford
Danielle Hughson's honors thesis will be focused on male editorial control and how it affects female writers, within a familial and patriarchal context.
Energized by Research
A grant from the Endeavor Foundation allowed engineering students Alfred Rwagaju '18 and Kennedy Gibson-Wynn '18 to spend the summer studying hydroelectric power in Rwanda.
Open for Business
A grant from the Endeavor Foundation allowed Yoko Koyama '19 and Maren Lundgren '18 to open a store in Cameroon that will fund transportation for local children to go to middle school in a neighboring town.
Down By the River
Over the summer, students worked with Professor Robert Humston to examine the potential effects of smallmouth bass on native brook trout populations in the Virginia watershed.
Adventures in the Alaskan Wilderness
As a summer counselor with the nonprofit Camp Fire Alaska, Chase Wonderlic '18 got in touch with his inner child and his adventurous spirit.
‘Like Our Souls Were Shaking Hands’
A grant from the Endeavor Foundation sent Trang Duong '20 and Hannah Denham '20 to Vietnam, where they had enlightening interviews with both men and women about marriage in modern Vietnamese society.
Lions, Giraffes and Photos — Oh My!
Olivia Kubli '18's summer volunteer work included photographing lions, giraffes and elephants in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
Interest STEMs from Fun
With a Davis Projects for Peace grant, Angel Vela de la Garza Evia ’18 created an educational summer program for children in his hometown of Monterrey, Mexico. [With time-lapse VIDEO]
Visiting George at Home
Anna Milewski '18 has spent time in fields, labs, carpenter shops and seminar rooms - and it was all part of one internship at the home of George Washington.
‘A Beautiful and Complex Country’
A grant from the Endeavor Foundation allowed Tiffany Ko '20 and Jiwon Kim '20 to study religion in South Korea during summer 2017.
From the Classroom to the Capitol
Sutton Travis '19 gained a wide breadth of journalism experience as a summer intern at Texas Monthly magazine.
Engineering Solutions for Amputees
Matt Lubas '18 spent the summer in Zacapa, Guatamala, working at a prosthetic clinic for the Range of Motion Project.
It’s All Greek to Her
Hannah Palmatary '18 spent the summer discovering the ancient ruins of Greece, as well as her own talent and passion for creative writing.
Investigating Protein Synthesis
Yavuz Durmaz ’20 worked with Professor Kyle Friend to probe mRNA instability.
Empowering Youth to Be Leaders
Lorena Hernandez Barcena '19 had an eye-opening summer internship with Harlem Children’s Zone, an education nonprofit in New York.
Cultivating a Social Media Presence
Elora Fucigna '19 completed an internship in social media and marketing for Ground Floor Farm, an urban farm in her hometown of Stuart, Florida.
Greeting Opportunity with Open Arms
Shadowing doctors in Peru allowed Bryan D'Ostroph '19 to practice his Spanish and firm up future career plans in health care.
‘An Active Participant in Solutions’
Through the Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty, Tyra Barrett '18 interned at the Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers in New Jersey.
Tracking Corporate Social Responsibility
Soon Ho Kwon '17 and Claire Meyers '18 spent the summer looking at how Corporate Social Responsibility plays a role in the bottom line.
Preserving Snippets, Smidgens and Scraps of History
Mary Catherine Greenleaf '19 collected and archived artifacts revolving around the Prohibition-era murder of Franklin Crosby Bearse.
All Up In Wilmington’s Business
Elly Cosgrove '19 stayed busy this summer with internships at the Greater Wilmington Business Journal and WECT (Channel 6).
Health Care Fieldwork in South Africa
Through the U.Va. Field School for Public Health Research, Julie Sklar '18 was able to work with a medical anthropologist and epidemiologist in South Africa this summer.
Summer Experience: Alumni Network Amplifies Opportunities for Alexis Narducci ’19L
2L Alexis Narducci used on-campus interviews and alumni connections to build a full summer of legal employment experiences.
‘The Perspective of a Real Journalist’
Matt Kaminer '18 stepped outside his comfort zone to work on some big stories during an internship with the Charlotte Observer.
Marketing in Motion Pictures
Daisy Norwood-Kelly '18 worked in marketing research for Paramount Pictures over the summer.
There’s No Place Like (a New) Home
After spending Spring Term in Ethiopia, Jack Kaelin '19 is in Austin, Texas, helping refugees find a place to call home.
Speaking with Confidence
Julia Poppenberg '19 spent the summer as a translator in Guatemala, helping doctors and patients alike and learning to "talk strong."
Focus on the Environment
Ellen Kanzinger's summer internship allowed her to work on films for the nonprofit GroundTruth Project in Boston, Massachusetts.
Adding Up the Research
Anukriti Shrestha '19 has found an intersection of mathematics, computer science and research — all in the heart of Lexington.
The Call of the Wildebeest
Jack Miller '19 has spent his summer in the bush of South Africa, learning about wildlife and conservation - and having a few close calls in the field.
Chasing History’s Mysteries
This summer, Allison Jue '20 dove into the books to learn more about the relationship between Queen Elizabeth I and the second Earl of Essex.
The Sound of Music
Professor Chris Dobbins and Ben Whedon ’18 are reviving a forgotten musical score for its 21st-century premiere by the W&L; Orchestra.
Going With the Flow
Will Schirmer ’20 investigates the fluid dynamics of periodic water surges.
A Special Summer in Special Collections
Chandler Wickers '18 has spent her summer as a researcher in Special Collections, where she has been exposed to fascinating materials and learned how professors and students can take greater advantage of the collection.
The Railway in German Literature
Ben Schaeffer '18 is working with German professor Paul Youngman on a project involving references to the railway in German literature.
‘These Spaces They Imagined’
Joelle Simeu '20 is working this summer on "The Politics and Poetics of Space in the Works of Martin Luther King Jr. and Leopold Senghor," a project with Professor Mohamed Kamara.
Hormones, Fat and Infertility
Annie Jeckovich ’18 is studying the effects of obesity on reproduction in W&L;'s Fat Rat lab.
Ten Students Awarded Endeavor Foundation Grants
Several student teams are chosen each year to pursue summer research outside the United States in locations such as Hanoi, Vietnam.
Looking for older stories? See the complete Summer Opportunity archive.