Fall 2025 Newsletter
Dear Friends of World at Hand,
This fall we’re welcoming new scholars, expanding the Global Scholars Pathway statewide, and celebrating a successful Beyond Borders pilot. Details below—and how you can get involved.
5-Year Anniversary Coming Soon
Next week we are marking five years as a 501(c)(3)! To celebrate this milestone we will be sticking with our roots and launching a grassroots “I Got 5 On It” campaign.
CTA: Keep an eye out for our next email with how we are celebrating, how you can support, and what we hope to achieve in the next five years.
Celebrating Our Scholars
This fall we are proud to introduce our newest World at Hand scholarship recipients. These students represent the heart of our mission, expanding equitable access to global education for those historically left out of international opportunities. Their journeys will spark leadership, confidence, and cross-cultural understanding in their communities. We have students heading to Spain, France, Guatemala, South Africa and the Netherlands.
Global Scholars Pathway Growth and Expansion
Our new four-week Beyond Borders: Next Steps re-entry program completed a successful pilot. Students left better prepared to articulate their experiences in interviews, cover letters, and on LinkedIn, reported higher confidence, and valued the chance to share and reflect with peers. This growth strengthens every stage of our Global Scholars Pathway, from first exposure to post-abroad success.
We have now taken steps to move beyond the Denver metro area to reach students across rural Colorado, beginning on the Western Slope in collaboration with the Montrose Library District. We are currently finalizing this partnership and will begin programming in January 2026.
First-of-Its-Kind: Virtual Study Abroad Fair
We are launching the US’s first ever virtual study abroad fair for Colorado community college students in collaboration with Fund for Education Abroad. This event will connect providers, universities, and scholarship organizations directly with students across the state, breaking down barriers and opening doors to global opportunities to one of the largest underserved groups of US undergraduates.
CTA: If you have connections to any Colorado Community Colleges please help us get connected with them.
Founder Spotlight
Our founder, Shawn Wall, is a Watson Institute Flagship Fellow this fall and a finalist for the Rising Star Award in the 2025 Global IMPACT Awards, which honor innovators advancing student success through global education. Winners will be announced live at the Global IMPACT Awards Gala & Dinner on Thursday, October 30, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. during the Global Impact Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
About the Flagship Fellowship: The Flagship Fellowship Program brings together 30 entrepreneurs in the critical “missing middle” stage—ventures that have demonstrated initial traction but need support to scale their impact.
About the Rising Star Award: recognizes early-career professionals who (1) advance belonging in the workplace, (2) leverage global education as a driver of academic, personal, and workforce success, and (3) broaden access to global learning.
CTA: Learn more about the Watson Fellowship and DA Global Impact Awards
With gratitude,
Shawn Wall
Founder& Executive Director
World at Hand