Giving Thanks for a Powerful Year of Growth

Dear Friends, Family, Partners and Supporters of World at Hand,

There is so much to be thankful for as I look back on 2025. This was my first year back home in Denver and the first time I’ve been able to support World at Hand on site and full time. As we wrap up International Education Week, I am feeling incredibly grateful for how far World at Hand has come and for the community that continues to walk with us.

International Education Week Recap

This IE Week was a special one for World at Hand. It began with my participation in a Kindness Session that invited professionals in our field to reflect on compassion, listening, and community as powerful tools for change. This session reminded me that kindness is not just a value we hold, but a practice that shapes how we show up for students and for one another. You can watch my segment (click photo) to see how World at Hand integrates kindness into all areas of our work.

We welcomed a new intern, Chanelle, to the World at Hand team. She will support our communications, awareness, and student outreach as we continue to grow.

We closed the week with exciting news. World at Hand and our Community College Virtual Study Abroad Fair concept were selected for The Forum on Education Abroad’s InnovateEA 2026 pitch event. I will present our idea on stage next March and highlight how virtual fairs paired with GSP Programs can expand global learning opportunities for community college students.

Spring 2026 Scholarships

I am thrilled to share that we are awarding 3 study abroad scholarships for the upcoming spring semester. These scholarships make study abroad a reality for students who have the passion to go abroad but face financial barriers that often make international experiences feel out of reach.

Each award represents a real student, a real family, and a real community whose future will be shaped by global learning. Stay tuned for the full announcement later this week.

Watson Institute Virtual Summit

This morning, I will wrap up the Watson Institute Flagship Fellowship with a global virtual summit. This experience has been a powerful season of learning, reflection, and leadership development, all rooted in the work of World at Hand and our Global Scholars Pathway. I will be sharing more about this journey, and how it will strengthen our impact in 2026 and beyond, on our social media channels soon. I leave with meaningful connections, new knowledge, expanded tools and resources, and a fully developed pitch that will continue to elevate World at Hand’s work.

This morning, I will wrap up the Watson Institute Flagship Fellowship with a global virtual summit. This experience has been a powerful season of learning, reflection, and leadership development, all rooted in the work of World at Hand and our Global Scholars Pathway. I will be sharing more about this journey, and how it will strengthen our impact in 2026 and beyond, on our social media channels soon. I leave with meaningful connections, new knowledge, expanded tools and resources, and a fully developed pitch that will continue to elevate World at Hand’s work.

Introducing our Year End “I Got 5 On It” Campaign

To close out the year, we are launching our “I Got 5 On It” campaign for Giving Tuesday (12/2), Colorado Gives Day (12/9) , and the entire giving season.

The idea is simple. When many people give a little, it adds up to a lot.

• Gifts start at just 5 dollars, with giving tiers that all end in 5

• Our goal is to bring in hundreds of individual donors each contributing what they can

• Every gift supports the growth of our newly established Denver Foundation Agency Advised Fund as we work to create an endowed scholarship fund that will ensure scholarships for years to come

• Help us match our 5,000 dollar deposit and support a legacy that will expand access to global learning for generations of students

If World at Hand has inspired you this year, I invite you to join the “I Got 5 On It” campaign and help us reach more students in 2026.

A Thanksgiving Note

With Thanksgiving around the corner, I want to share how truly grateful I am for each person reading this. Every moment of progress this year, every student supported, every partnership built, every recognition earned has been fueled by the kindness, encouragement, and belief of people like you.

Thank you for being part of this mission, for supporting our students, and for helping create a world where global opportunities are truly within reach.

Wishing you and your loved ones a warm and joyful Thanksgiving.

With gratitude,
Shawn Wall
Founder& Executive Director
World at Hand