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Student Stories

Student Stories

Caldwell Fellows reflect, in their own words, on the lessons learned from experiential learning made possible through grants offered by the program.
Read more about their experiences below.

Fall 2025 experiences

My Week at NETtra

Elena Wigglesworth
Class of 2028
Elena Wigglesworth is a sophomore double majoring in Agricultural Business Management and Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management with a concentration in Tourism and Event Planning. She is interested in agritourism and wellness and hopes to one day found an agriculture-based community wellness center.

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Coffee Couture

Grace Chen
Class of 2027
Grace is a junior studying Fashion Design at the Wilson College of Textiles. She hopes to pursue couture design and is passionate about implementing traditional Chinese embroidery into her own personal apparel design.

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Professional Leadership Through the AFA Food Institute

Abigail Commodore
Class of 2027
Abigail Commodore is a junior majoring in Food Science with minors in Microbiology and Food Safety & Quality. Her academic interests center on food safety systems, quality assurance, and the application of microbiology to real-world food production and regulatory settings.

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Strengthening Food Safety Leadership through HACCP Certification

Abigail Commodore
Class of 2027
Abigail Commodore is a junior majoring in Food Science with minors in Microbiology and Food Safety & Quality. Her academic interests center on food safety systems, quality assurance, and the application of microbiology to real-world food production and regulatory settings.

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Dominican Republic: Serving for Peace

Adrian Chavarria
Class of 2028
Adrian is a second year studying Construction Engineering with a minor in Landscape Architecture.

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Austin’s Boston Adventure!

Austin Burton
Class of 2028
Austin Burton is a Class of 2028 Fellow majoring in Civil Engineering. He is interested in transportation and planning in an urban context.

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Aligning Stars

Joshua Dodoo
Class of 2027
Joshua Dodoo is a Junior at NC State University studying Applied Mathematics. He is interested in Actuarial Science and has a deep passion for dance.

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Urban adventure 2025: NEw york city

New York City: Navigating the Big Apple

Matthew Menon
Class of 2027
My name is Matthew Menon, and I am a second year student at NC State University double majoring in statistics and environmental science. I am interested in applying statistical methods and data science tools to furthering our understanding of anthropogenic impacts on the environment, particularly through climate change. I hope to utilize this quantitative skillset to provide data-driven solutions to overcome the environmental and economic problems barriers to climate change mitigation and adaptation solutions!

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A Weekend in NYC – The Metro, The MET, and the Match

Armaan Raina
Class of 2027
Armaan Raina is from the class of 2027 majoring in computer science and statistics, with an interest in computational neuroscience and neural interfaces.

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Caldwell Fellows New York City Trip

Ella Murphy
Class of 2026
Ella Murphy is a fourth year student studying electrical engineering. Originally from Asheville NC, Ella is a part of the Caldwell Fellows class of 2026.

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Mark Me Present

Sam Prescott
Class of 2028
Sam Prescott is a sophomore in the class of 2028 at NC State University. He is majoring in fisheries, wildlife, and conservation biology with a concentration in wildlife sciences. He has a passion for the outdoors and conservation that leads him to pursue academic interests in forestry, wildlife management, and public relations to inform others of conservation.

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Only in New York

Maisy Baker
Class of 2028
Maisy Baker is a member of the Caldwell Fellows class of 2028 studying mathematics and math education. She plans on becoming a public high school math teacher.

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Concrete Jungle Where Dreams are Made of

Simon McNair
Class of 2026
My name is Simon McNair and I am from Asheville, NC. I am a senior in the Caldwell Class of 2026 studying biological and agricultural engineering. I am passionate about sustainability and am interested in pursuing a career in ecosystem restoration.

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Finding Stillness in Motion: Reflections from New York City

Lucas Ciscato
Class of 2027
Lucas Ciscato is in his first year of the Master of International Studies, focusing on global educational disparities and how educational reform can serve as an effective form of humanitarian aid and intervention.

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Global Perspectives 2025: Japan

Finding Common Ground in Japan

Tochukwu Aniekwensi
Class of 2027
Tochukwu Aniekwensi is a Chemical Engineerin major in the class of 2027. He has strong interests in renewable energy and overall working towards a more sustainable future. He enjoys conversations and making genuing connections.

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Beyond the Surface: Discovering Perspective in Japan

Abigail Commodore
Class of 2027
Abigail Commodore is a Junior studying Food Science with a minor in Microbiology. She’s passionate about exploring the science behind safe, sustainable, and accessible food systems, especially for underserved communities. Her academic journey is shaped by a strong interest in food safety and public health, as well as a commitment to serving others and growing as a leader.

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Caldwell Fellows Mayventure – Japan

Sam Blancas
Class of 2026
Samuel Blancas is a member of the Caldwell Fellows Class of 2026. He is studying Mechanical Engineering, and has a deep appreciation for the ways clever engineering can enhance our lives. Samuel takes particular interest in the automotive world, and hopes to combine his passion for cars and engineering into a fulfilling career.

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Embracing Shoshin 初心 in Japan

Maylan Maxwell
Class of 2026
Maylan Maxwell is a member of the class of 2027, majoring in Fashion and Textile Management with a Fashion Development and Product Management concentration and minors in Business Administration and Philosophy. She plans to work in design or product development within the textile industry.

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Experiencing Japan

Lelani Williamson
Class of 2027
Lelani Williamson is an English major in the Caldwell Class of 2027, minoring in Africana Studies and Political Science. Her academic interests focus on Black studies, with research exploring concepts such as racial passing, media misrepresentation, American cultural myths, and workplace discrimination. She is actively engaged in scholarly inquiry aimed at deepening the understanding of race, identity, and inequality by connecting past literature with present issues.

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Reflecting on Japan

Charles Kellon
Class of 2026
Charles Kellon is a member of the Caldwell Fellow’s Class of 2026 studying Elementary Education with a dual-licensure in Special Education and concentration in STEM with the intent of teaching.

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Abroad in Japan – Observations in The
Land of The Rising Sun

Max Nicely
Class of 2026
Max Nicely is a senior majoring in Plant Biology, and minoring in German and Biotechnology. Max enjoys studying languages and aspires to become a physician after graduating from NC State in 2026.

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The Space Between Words

Mahika Patil
Class of 2026
Mahika Patil is a member of the Class of 2027 majoring in Computer Science. She is passionate about using technology to address social challenges, particularly in healthcare and education.

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Japan – A Country Based on Service

Josie Houchard
Class of 2027
Josie Houchard is a Biological and Agricultural Engineering major in the Caldwell Class of 2027 who is interested in wetland and river restoration.

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Global Perspectives Japan: An Odyssey of Self-Discovery

Mason Baker
Class of 2027
Mason Baker is a Senior Communication major from the Class of 2027 with a keen interest in the fields of advertising, marketing, and social media development.

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Reflecting on my Time in Japan

Jacob Martin
Class of 2026

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What is Culture?

Camille Dunn
Class of 2027
Camille Dunn is class of 2027 and Film and Communications major with a zoology minor. She loves horror movies and literature and in her spare time she enjoys outdoor exploration and spending time with her pets and friends. Camille has a special interest in screenwriting and plans to concrete her career decision as she explores her second major and finishes her Bachelors in film!

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Journey Through Japan

Andrew Hammock
Class of 2025
Andrew Hammock is a member of the class of 2025, who graduated with a degree in electrical and computer engineering with a minor in music performance.

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Servant Leadership is Always in Style

Lainey Volz
Class of 2026

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Japan Cultural Immersion

Grace Sullivan
Class of 2025

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An Unforgettable Journey Through Japan

Megan Thomas
Class of 2025
Megan Thomas is part of the Caldwell Class of 2025 and majored in Crop and Soil Science with a concentration in Crop Biotechnology. While at NC State, she completed an internship with Syngenta Crop Protection and was part of research in Dr. Ralph Dewey’s Crop Biotechnology lab on Centennial Campus. Since graduating, she is now an Environmental Specialist with the State of North Carolina in Raleigh.

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My Second Home in Nagoya

Joshua Dodoo
Class of 2027
Joshua, a member of the class of 2027, is pursuing a major in Applied Mathematics with two minors in Business Administration and Dance. In addition to his academic interests, his passion for dance has led to him being a member of NC State’s Panoramic Dance Project, in which he performs with a group of talented dancers in their biannual dance concerts.

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A Summer Abroad with Caldwell Fellows

Kaeshad Williamson
Class of 2025
Kaeshad Williamson is a first-year Ph.D. student in Biomedical Engineering at NC State University, where he also earned his undergraduate degree in 2025. His academic interests include cancer research, organ-on-chip technology, and the development of innovative preclinical drug testing platforms. He is particularly focused on advancing translational biomedical research to improve therapeutic development and patient outcomes.

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Wilderness expedition 2025: Sierra Nevadas

Impossible, IMpossible

Kevin Kim
Class of 2028
Kevin Kim is a member of the Class of 2028 at NC State University, majoring in civil engineering. He is passionate about developing infrastructure solutions that improve quality of life, with particular interests in providing access to clean, potable water and creating efficient, accessible transportation systems.

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My Wilderness Experience

Sam Decker
Class of 2028
Sam Decker is a Caldwell Fellow in the Class of 2028 studying Business Administration with concentrations in Finance and Marketing.

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From the Shire to the Sierras

Delta Cole
Class of 2027
Delta Cole is in the Class of 2027 and is a civil engineering major interested in structures and transportation

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The Seduction of a Struggle: A Wilderness Reflection

Caden Miller
Class of 2026
Caden Miller is member of the Class of 2026 at NC State University, majoring in Industrial and Systems Engineering with a second degree in Philosophy. His academic interests include human cognition, decision support systems, and the intersection of technology, ethics, and human behavior.

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A Walk in the Woods?

Hannah Sawulski
Class of 2027
Hannah Sawulski is a Spanish Education major in the class of 2027. She is also pursuing a Teaching English as a Foreign Language minor, and serves as the coordinator of Café Spanglish, a program created and run by the Spanish Ambassadors.

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Purposeful Discomfort

Olivia Townsend
Class of 2026
Olivia is a member of the Caldwell Fellows class of 2026. She will begin as a first-year graduate student within the History Department at NC State in the Fall.

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Shoutout John Muir

Simon McNair
Class of 2026
My name is Simon McNair and I am from Asheville, NC. I am a senior in the Caldwell Class of 2026 studying biological and agricultural engineering. I am passionate about sustainability and am interested in pursuing a career in ecosystem restoration.

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Off the Map

Megan Aljian
Class of 2026
Megan Aljian is in the class of 2026, majoring in Biological and Agricultural Engineering with a passion for plants, community, and sustainability.

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Summer 2025 experiences

Studying Deutsch in Wien

Claire Siegel
Class of 2027
Claire Siegel (she/her) is a member of the Class of 2027 and is pursuing a degree in International Studies with a concentration in Global Sustainability and Development. She also has minors in Agroecology, Anthropology, and German Studies. Claire is passionate about sustainable development within the agricultural sector. She believes that improving and better understanding contemporary food systems requires interdisciplinary perspectives, especially in addressing sustainable production and food insecurity.

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Relationships, Rotations, and Real Growth: My KPMG Journey

Jaden Abney
Class of 2027
Jaden is a Junior who studies accounting and is interested in International tax compliance.

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Natural Resources and Reflection: Summer Adventures in Sweden

Liz Stern
Class of 2028
Liz Stern is a sophomore in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology: Wildlife Science Concentration with a minor in Global One Health. She hopes to combine her studies with public service through collecting data on wildlife disease in North Carolina. Her interests in art, education, and outreach inspire her to look for opportunities to creatively engage communities.

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My Oxford Year (Or Better Yet, Summer)

Erin Monteith
Class of 2027
Erin Monteith is in the Caldwell class of 2027 and is a Chemistry major. She is passionate about undergraduate research and plans to pursue graduate studies following graduation at NC State.

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Mesha’s Road to Medicine

Mesha Strickland
Class of 2027
This is Mesha Strickland, a junior (Class of 2027) in Caldwell, majoring in Human Biology with minors in Psychology and Health, Medicine, and Human Values. Mesha is on the pre-med track with hopes of going to medical school to become a pediatrician one day. Mesha loves learning about the human body and mind, not only how they function independently, but also their interconnectedness. Mesha is a member of AED, a preprofessional health society at NC State, as well as the University Honors Program. For fun, Mesha enjoys volunteering as a Pharmacy Technician at the Open Door Clinic, singing in the State Chorale choir, and crocheting with her friends at the Earth, Wind, and Yarn Club.

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Neurosurgical Device Design in St. Louis – A Summer at Washington University School of Medicine

Armaan Raina
Class of 2027
Armaan Raina is from the class of 2027 majoring in computer science and statistics, with an interest in computational neuroscience and neural interfaces.

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Alternative Service Break in Iceland: The Land of Fire and Ice

Matthew Menon
Class of 2027
My name is Matthew Menon, and I am a second year student at NC State University double majoring in statistics and environmental science. I am interested in applying statistical methods and data science tools to furthering our understanding of anthropogenic impacts on the environment, particularly through climate change. I hope to utilize this quantitative skillset to provide data-driven solutions to overcome the environmental and economic problems barriers to climate change mitigation and adaptation solutions!

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State Climate Office Research: Climate and Energy

Matthew Menon
Class of 2027
My name is Matthew Menon, and I am a second year student at NC State University double majoring in statistics and environmental science. I am interested in applying statistical methods and data science tools to furthering our understanding of anthropogenic impacts on the environment, particularly through climate change. I hope to utilize this quantitative skillset to provide data-driven solutions to overcome the environmental and economic problems barriers to climate change mitigation and adaptation solutions!

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Finding My Voice in Healthcare: My Summer as a CNA
Student

Samantha Rua
Class of 2028
Samantha Rua is a second-year Biological Sciences student at NC State University, concentrating in Integrative Physiology and Neurobiology with a minor in Cognitive Science. Her academic interests include neurodegenerative disease research and the study of brain–body interactions.

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The Summer I Turned Healing into a Hypothesis

Juman Odeh
Class of 2026
Juman Odeh is a member of the Caldwell Fellows class of 2026, she double majors in Physiology & Neurobiology as well as Chemistry with a minor in Health, Medicine and Human Values. She hopes to pursue graduate studies, where her interests lie in drug discovery and the synthesis of molecules as probes to biological systems. Juman is passionate about science, academia and servant-leadership.

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SPRING 2025 experiences

A Week Abroad: Paris & Amsterdam

Hannah Sawulski
Class of 2027
Hannah Sawulski is a Spanish Education major in the class of 2027. She is also pursuing a Teaching English as a Foreign Language minor, and serves as the coordinator of Café Spanglish, a program created and run by the Spanish Ambassadors.

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