Alumni Spotlight: Cambodia
This month we’re proud to spotlight four Cambodian alumni who participated in the Global UGRAD Program in Fall 2023. In just over a year since returning home, they have made remarkable progress toward their goals, stepping up as mentors and leaders in their communities. It’s inspiring to see how their exchange experience continues to shape their journey and create lasting impact.
Muylin Saing | Grand Valley State University | Youth Leadership Intern
“Inspired by my membership in the Seidman Investment Portfolio Organization (IPO), a student organization at Grand Valley State University, I co-founded the “Paragon Banking and Finance Club” with my fellow classmates. This is the first-ever student organization for the banking and finance department. Seeing firsthand the professionalism and career-readiness of U.S. students at Seidman IPO lead me to develop the same for my peers in Cambodia. Working together with four co-founders and five core teams, we have successfully completed a multitude of events, trainings, and hands-on experiences, including internal training sessions, sharing sessions, site and company visits, and a poster contest on financial literacy, and we successfully hosted the Beyond Traditional Accounting and Finance Roles (BAF) Forum.”
Sothearith Sok | Wayne State University | Civil Engineering Intern
“Being granted the opportunity to study in the United States for one semester has widened my horizon to places I never thought I would see. The experience of stepping into America for the first time is surreal to me, even now. Through the Global UGRAD Program, I learned to think more creatively and critically, communicate my thoughts more clearly and concisely, and instill a type of confidence that I did not have before, all of which helped shape me academically and professionally. To be part of the Global UGRAD family is truly the opportunity of a lifetime.”
Sovichea Saron | Georgia College & State University | Communication and Business Development Executive
“My Global UGRAD experience has revealed to me the grand possibilities in this enormous world of ours, and has reaffirmed my commitment to making that world a better place. I found that my heart is placed firmly in the journey of helping others thrive, and helping development grow – this remains my highest aspiration. As I enter the workforce, I strive to work hard and learn hard in an effort to better equip myself to help tackle our societal problems.”
Sopanha Sin | University of South Dakota | Legal Officer
“The Global UGRAD Program provided me with a broader and clearer perspective on how I should see life and how to adjust my ways in order to achieve my main goals. For instance, after I returned home, I began reaching out to staff in my law program to volunteer as an advisor for an international moot court competition. Before UGRAD, I would be hesitant and nervous about challenging myself; now, I believe in and have discovered myself. I know now that I can actually achieve my passion: teaching.”