Appel Scholars Celebration
The 2023 Appel Scholars and their projects:
Anna Behuniak ’26 combined interviews, photos, and observational writing about her experiences to create in-depth portraits of four microbusinesses in Taiwan.
Rohaan Bhojwani ’26 went to the island of Svalbard, in the Arctic Circle, and compiled oral histories of residents of Longyearbyen, the northernmost town in the world.
Oliver Broegger ’26 made a documentary film about an organization that he and his brother began, Goals & Grades Ghana, that helps bridge the gap between sports and education in Ghana.
Sophia Castellanos ’26 spent the summer in conversation with Latinas in Northern California and Mexico, writing a collection of poems about cultural identity, family and gender.
Tanveer Singh Chabba ’26 delved into electronic dance music (EDM) in England, Spain and Germany, interviewing DJs and writing about community, inclusivity, and musical cultures.
James Cullers ’26 traveled through Germany studying Schopenhauer’s philosophy of pessimism and writing a philosophical defense of pessimism, two short stories, and a travel reflection.
Isabella Estey ’26 hiked, camped, and backpacked around Washington state while journaling and interviewing fellow female outdoor lovers about how they found their love for the outdoors.
Luc Fabing ’26 worked on commercial and subsistence farms in Ecuador, writing essays and poems on local knowledge, culture and sustainability in Ecuador and his home state of Kentucky.
Daniel Fernandez ’26 spent time in the greater Los Angeles area and in Mexico, writing a personal reflection on culture, community, and the meanings of “home” for Mexican Americans.
Kylie Ha ’26 traveled to Amman, Jordan for her project, “Arabic (is) for Life.” Her time there culminated in an anthology of poems, memoirs, interviews, and hand-drawn Arabic calligraphy.
Arlo Jay ’26 combined text and image to reflect on his first experience navigating Taiwan, writing about urban transit systems and temples, busy street markets and lush natural landscapes.
Jiyeon Kim ’26 investigated how food is produced in South Korea, from farm cultivation to restaurant and household cooking, in a project that combines recipes, reflections, and reportage.
Rhea Kulkarni ’26 explored historical and political conflict, socioeconomic culture, and religious influence in Jordan and the surrounding area, creating a photojournalistic travelogue.
Anne McDonald ’26 went to her mother’s homeland of Taiwan. The website she made, In Gong Gong’s Footsteps, explores her experiences and, through oral history, those of her grandfather.
Gray Mollenkamp ’26 studied the troubling connection between football and post-game violence in the UK, documenting his findings and offering policy recommendations in an essay.
Leticia Murer de Souza ’26 spent her summer in Valdobbiadene, the village in Italy where her grandfather grew up. Her project meditates on the impact of WWII on the village and her family.
Henry Otte ’26 traveled to Paris, Fontainebleau, and Normandy, immerse himself in French cuisine. He created blog and vlog posts as well as a research paper on cross-cultural nutrition.
Olivia Padilla ’26 worked with children who have disabilities through an Integrated Music, Art, and Dance Therapy program in Quito, Ecuador, creating a bilingual text/image prose collection.
Annie Parizeau ’26 wrote an essay combining research and reflection on her time in Iceland, where she spent the summer interviewing woman athletes about body image and Crossfit culture.
Juan Pozo ’26 attended Major League Soccer games in 5 American cities, interviewing fans and then writing, on a website, about the evolving role soccer plays in his and other people’s lives.
Nilaja Sultan ’26 traveled to Dakar, Senegal. The book of poetry she wrote, In Dakar, was inspired by people and places she encountered and strengthened by the voices of her ancestors.
Tristen Tate ’26 rode the bus all summer. Interviewing passengers and drivers in Chicago and LA, she made poems, “love letters” to both cities, and a short film, “To live and die in Chicago.”
Riley Zitar ’26 made her way through Romania and Ireland, learning about the culture of each country through the lens of fashion and traditional dress and writing a blog, “Sew the Way.”