Spring 2026 Newsletter
From Denver to Nashville -- and the Work Keeps Growing
This spring, World at Hand took the stage on a national level, and the momentum we have been building since 2020 was on full display.
Attending our first ever Forum on Education Abroad Annual Conference in Nashville, we had the opportunity to share World at Hand's work with international education professionals from across the country. I presented a poster on the Global Scholars Pathway, highlighting the proven model we have built to move underserved Denver students from disbelief to action and development in international education, and the importance of holistic student support.
We also competed in InnovateEA, the Forum's pitch competition for new and emerging ideas in the field, where we pitched our Community College Virtual Study Abroad Fairs as a developing arm of our Global Education Ecosystem -- bringing a solution to one of the field's largest gaps to a national audience. Being named an InnovateEA finalist is a recognition we are proud to carry back to Denver. The conversations we had reinforced what our students already know: that this work matters, and that the field is paying attention. Want to see the pitch for yourself? Watch the full video here.
Since the pitch, interest has been strong -- with meetings already underway and partnerships forming to bring this new access point to the 40% of US undergrads who make up a mere 2% of study abroad students. We are now piloting a national fair this Fall to scale our model and determine the best path forward for supporting community college access nationwide.
Two More Reasons to Celebrate
The national recognition did not stop there. World at Hand has earned two GoAbroad Award nominations for 2026.
I have been named a finalist for the GoAbroad Innovation in Global Respectful Disruption Leadership Award for the second consecutive year. This award recognizes leaders who are driving meaningful change in global education access.
World at Hand's Global Education Ecosystem has also been recognized as a finalist for the GoAbroad Innovation in Accessibility Award, which honors programs and initiatives that are breaking down barriers to international education. This nomination reflects the design of our ecosystem as a whole -- from our virtual study abroad fairs reaching community college students to our scholarship support and passport programming.
Together, these nominations are a signal that the model we are building in Colorado is being recognized as a national example of what the future of education abroad can be.Thank you for your continued support and have a wonderful summer.
A New Chapter for Our Board
World at Hand is growing, and so is the team guiding it. We want to take a moment to recognize three founding board members who are stepping down after years of foundational contribution. A huge thank you to Kevin Wilson (Board Chair), Christina Hadera (Board Secretary), and Dóra Wall (Board Treasurer) -- all played a vital role in getting World at Hand off the ground through local volunteering, program development, community connections, support, and guidance. Their commitment during our earliest years made this moment possible.
As we move into this next chapter and work to switch from startup to scaling, we are building a board that not only has the knowledge, experiences, and capacity, but reflects the communities we serve and the scale we are reaching for. We are excited to bring on new members, ideas, and vision as we enter the next stage of World at Hand.
By the Numbers
This year, World at Hand has already reached students across Denver and the Western Slope, as well as students from across the US. We have run programming with nearly 200 students in 2026 and are on track to award a record high of 15 scholarships this year. Since launching programming in 2022, we have reached 650+ students, supported 50+ GAP participants, and will have awarded a milestone amount of $10,000 in scholarships with our upcoming summer cycle. Across all of our programming, 92% of participants identify as BIPOC, 90% as first-generation, and 100% come from low-income backgrounds. We are seeing real momentum, and it would not be possible without your support.
Thank you for being part of this work.
It has been an amazing experience growing World at Hand from a dream of a scholarship twelve years ago. If you would like to see this work continue to grow, consider making a gift today. Every dollar goes directly toward expanding access, removing barriers, and developing students to take their place in the world.