Tlalnantzin Carlos
"Aztec dance has endured for centuries, surviving conquest and migration while remaining a powerful tradition of resilience and identity. For my Appel project, I will document the stories of Aztec dance communities in Europe, particularly in Spain and Germany, where Indigenous traditions are blooming in lands shaped by colonial history. Through interviews and storytelling, I will capture the voices of danzantes, exploring how they preserve and adapt this ancient tradition. By immersing myself in their practices, I hope to gain new perspectives, strengthen my writing, and contribute to the preservation of Aztec dance on a global scale."
Katherine Dennis
"This summer I will follow the path of my female ancestors through Great Britain, Scotland, and Ireland to research the social, religious, and economic circumstances they encountered throughout their lifetimes. As I travel through ancestral towns, uncover historical documents, and engage with local communities, I will write letters about my experiences. These letters will be reflections to my ancestors, to myself, and to the future generations of women. I am excited to shed new light on the women who paved the way for me, and to gain a deeper understanding of my heritage!"
Robert Gama
"My project will explore sustainable living through immersive experiences in Kyoto, Singapore, Amsterdam, Bruges, Amiens, Paris, Portland, and San Francisco. I will explore how different cultures implement sustainable initiatives and habits. Through field notes, conversations, and personal reflections, I’ll document my journey in a multimedia journal using writing, watercolor, and colored pencils. This project will push me beyond my comfort zone as a writer and solo traveler while exploring the financial, environmental, and emotional impacts of sustainable living throughout the world. Ultimately, I aim to tell a relatable story that challenges mainstream perspectives and highlights practical ways to live sustainably."
Zachary Iler
"This summer, I will be traveling to Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo to visit farmers markets. At the markets, I will explore food culture and why sustainable food systems work well in these countries. Drawing on my daily experience at the markets as well as background research on sustainable food systems, I will write a long form news article about food sustainability. I hope that by reporting on this topic I can draw attention to possible solutions to enmesh sustainability in the culture of the United States."
Caitlin Kuhlmann
"I've always been interested in marine conservation, but growing up in the landlocked state of Missouri, I was never able to fully explore these interests. This summer I will spend time at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and the Oceanogràfic València in Spain, two of the leaders in marine conservation worldwide. My goal is to volunteer and learn about conservation and education efforts at these institutions in order to write a bilingual book for younger children. I hope to inspire a new generation of kids to care about protecting marine life as much as I do."
Kryster Carmela Labarda
"For my Appel Fellowship, I will set out on a two-month journey through the Philippines to explore its cultural psychology (kapwa) through the lens of informal economies, particularly the jeepney industry– an iconic, affordable mode of transit. Navigating bustling cities, lush beaches, and mountainous terraces aboard jeepneys, I will produce a multimedia project including qualitative research, regional testimonies, and striking visuals. I aim to dissect the various meanings of mobility through jeepney: being physically moved between communities, being emotionally moved by localized practices like medical care, and launching a pop-up jeepney initiative with resources aimed at public health efforts."
Annika Marshall
"When my great-grandfather was my age, he was deployed to the Western Front instead of attending college. During the war, he kept a journal and took photographs documenting his travels across France. My project entails retracing his steps and recording my travels through a parallel journal with illustrations. Once I return home, I will compile my great-grandfather's short entries and photographs with my own longer observations and illustrations into a hardcover book. Even though he died decades before I was born, through this shared vulnerability, adventure, and love of journaling, I will meet him for the first time."
Eisha Muddassir
"I aim to explore the intersection of religion, architecture and horror by writing a series of fiction horror short stories set in religious places of worship across different ages. For this purpose, I’ll travel to Rome in Italy, visiting the Roman Temples of the Roman Empire, Paris in France and Barcelona in Spain, exploring the Gothic Cathedrals of the Christian Middle Ages and Lahore in Pakistan, wandering to the Mosques of the Islamic Mughal Empire. Along with the short stories, which I will self-publish, I’ll do a comparative religious analysis of the architecture of these locations and showcase my findings on an Instagram account."
Carissa Qin
"As a high school student I volunteered at “China Folk House,” a farmhouse from Yunnan, China that was saved from a dam project and relocated to West Virginia. For my Appel Fellowship, I will visit Yunnan to experience the region’s distinct ethnic diversity and farming traditions which are once again facing destruction by dam flooding. In Yunnan, farming is a universal language, imbued in every facet of life and cultural practices. Photos, too, are a universal language, and alongside my writing, which will draw on interviews and my own reflections, I will use black-and-white film photography to document my project."
Jonas Rickert
"This summer I will travel across Germany to reconnect with my cultural roots and explore the contrasts between German and American work-life balance. My journey includes early mornings at our family bakery in Munich, interviews with business professionals, and long conversations with locals while trekking the Allgäu Alps. Through observational and academic writing, I aim to uncover how community, leisure, and work ethic shape personal fulfillment. By immersing myself in German traditions—Sommerfest celebrations, Stammtisch gatherings, and Feierabend culture—I hope to challenge traditional American notions of success and bring fresh insights on balance and happiness back to CMC."
Jose Saquic-Castro
"My Appel Fellowship project will be a diasporic memoir that explores the intersection of identity, heritage, and cultural displacement. Inspired by Saidiya Hartman’s Losing Your Mother, I will travel to Joyabaj, Guatemala, to reconnect with my roots through photography and reflective writing. By documenting the lives of farmers, artisans, teachers, shopkeepers, I will compare my American upbring to my family’s homeland, examining how traditions, language, and storytelling shape identity. This project will bridge personal and historical narratives, capturing the complexities of belonging and cultural memory across borders."
Ryu Sato
"For my Appel Fellowship, I will travel to four cities in Taiwan to examine Japan’s past colonial rule over Taiwan and investigate why both the Taiwanese people and government continue to exhibit a deep affinity for Japan. Although my grandparents are Taiwanese, I lost contact with them for many years because I grew up in Japan. Having reconnected with them last year, I will also trace my family history in Taiwan. Throughout my journey, I will keep journal entries documenting my reflections, narratives from my extended family, interview transcripts, and descriptions of places with pictures."
IVY TRAN
"For my Appel Fellowship project, I will investigate and document how Chinese culture and the host culture of large cities interact to create the unique communities, history, and dialects of Chinatowns in New York, Canada, and Japan. By documenting my observations of these Chinatowns, I will create a travel journal displaying how Chinese culture has been preserved and adapted, through languages, customs, and traditions adopted by both immigrants and local residents. I will express and document my experiences through writing, which will allow me to fully process, analyze, and communicate the unique experiences of the Chinese diaspora."