Jacqueline's Global Scholars Blog

I n A pril, as I concluded my internship at the United Nations Association, Pasadena Chapter, I transitioned into a new role: Board Member. While I am humbled and honored to serve in this new position for the UNA-Pasadena, I also feel a great sense of responsibility to do more.  With the obvious “solidarity challenges” that have arisen due to Covid-19, I am increasingly grateful for the gift of technology because it allows me to share my voice beyond the confines of my home.  As such, I would like to take this opportunity - as the final blog I am writing as a Poly student - to share information about the UNA-USA, Pasadena. Its mission is to generate support for the United Nations and its commitment to global peace, justice, and freedom. Moreover, during these challenging times, the UNA-USA encourages its members to support the World Health Organization (WHO). Additional information can be found on the UNA-USA Pasadena’s Facebook page.  Please be on the lookout f

My Capstone project, i Thuba Innovation Hub & Connecting Communities marked the conclusion of my Global Scholar experience at Polytechnic High School. The collaborative presentation, led by WSL co-chair Megan Kellner and myself, showcased the efforts of Siviwe Mbinda, the founder of iThuba, and his two phenomenal students. Our audience consisted of approximately seventy Poly learners interested in learning more about the iThuba Stem school in South Africa.  Utilizing Zoom as our platform, Megan and I began the presentation with an overview of iThuba and the grant-writing process.  After providing information and answering questions regarding the topic at hand, our conversation naturally shifted to the present-day situation in South Africa in light of Covid-19. The visible difficulty Siviwe and his students had connecting to WiFi during our meeting reflected the new challenges presented to Ithuba’s Community. Siviwe explained that the grant Megan and I provided Ithuba wit

Michael’s Capstone Project entailed a detailed description of the book grant he received for underrepresented children. He directed his presentation to the future generation of Global Scholars, specifically incorporating tips on how to present and write a grant proposal.  Michael noted that appealing to the panelists is an important factor to take into consideration when preparing a grant proposal. In the case of his book grant, Michael strategically appealed to his audience by demonstrating the strong connection between his organization, Reading Partners, and himself. Reading Partners is an organization that Michael has volunteered for since freshman year. Michael not only provided statistics proving that his foundation is successful in raising children’s reading levels, but he also drew to the emotions of the panel by explaining to them that many of the students rarely find themselves represented in children’s books.  As a Global Scholar who also wrote a grant, I found Mi