<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<homepage>
 <features>
  <item>
   <title><![CDATA[Educational Odyssey]]></title>
   <rollover><![CDATA[Ashton Evans &rsquo;26 reflects on a W&amp;L experience full of mentorship, global learning and skills she will carry with her for life.&nbsp;]]></rollover>
   <link>https://columns.wlu.edu/educational-odyssey/?utm_source=johnson-homepage&amp;utm_medium=features</link>
   <image>https://columns.wlu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/MLK_Tea_Ceremony_1-29-26_006-scaled.jpg</image>
   <portrait>https://columns.wlu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/MLK_Tea_Ceremony_1-29-26_006-400x600.jpg</portrait>
   <thumbnail>https://columns.wlu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/MLK_Tea_Ceremony_1-29-26_006-300x300.jpg</thumbnail>
  </item>
  <item>
   <title><![CDATA[Meet Ryan Doty &#8217;26]]></title>
   <rollover><![CDATA[Doty&#039;s many creative pursuits range from research in the chemistry lab to taking photos around campus.]]></rollover>
   <link>https://columns.wlu.edu/meet-ryan-doty-26/?utm_source=johnson-homepage&amp;utm_medium=features</link>
   <image>https://columns.wlu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Faces-Ryan-Doty-9.17.25-scaled.jpg</image>
   <portrait>https://columns.wlu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Faces-Ryan-Doty-9.17.25-scaled-400x600.jpg?theia_smart_thumbnails_file_version=2</portrait>
   <thumbnail>https://columns.wlu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Faces-Ryan-Doty-9.17.25-scaled-300x300.jpg?theia_smart_thumbnails_file_version=2</thumbnail>
  </item>
  <item>
   <title><![CDATA[In The Lead: New Chapter]]></title>
   <rollover><![CDATA[Adhip Adhikari &rsquo;27 constructed a library at a secondary school in Kathmandu,  Nepal, with the help of the Washington and Lee University community.]]></rollover>
   <link>https://columns.wlu.edu/in-the-lead-new-chapter/?utm_source=johnson-homepage&amp;utm_medium=features</link>
   <image>https://columns.wlu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/CC-Adhip-Adhikari2-scaled.jpg</image>
   <portrait>https://columns.wlu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/CC-Adhip-Adhikari2-scaled-400x600.jpg?theia_smart_thumbnails_file_version=2</portrait>
   <thumbnail>https://columns.wlu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/CC-Adhip-Adhikari2-scaled-300x300.jpg?theia_smart_thumbnails_file_version=2</thumbnail>
  </item>
  <item>
   <title><![CDATA[Songs of Summer&nbsp;]]></title>
   <rollover><![CDATA[Meredith Harron &rsquo;26 trained and performed with the Mediterranean Opera Festival this summer through a Johnson Opportunity Grant.&nbsp;]]></rollover>
   <link>https://columns.wlu.edu/songs-of-summer/?utm_source=johnson-homepage&amp;utm_medium=features</link>
   <image>https://columns.wlu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_4317-WP.jpg</image>
   <portrait>https://columns.wlu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_4317-WP-400x600.jpg?theia_smart_thumbnails_file_version=2</portrait>
   <thumbnail>https://columns.wlu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_4317-WP-300x300.jpg?theia_smart_thumbnails_file_version=2</thumbnail>
  </item>
 </features>
 <grants>
  <item>
   <title><![CDATA[What the Mountain Gives You]]></title>
   <abstract><![CDATA[Chris Paudel &rsquo;28 set out to challenge himself &mdash; and cultural stereotypes &mdash; through a mountaineering expedition in his home country of Nepal.]]></abstract>
   <link>https://columns.wlu.edu/what-the-mountain-gives-you/</link>
   <thumbnail>https://columns.wlu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/chrissnowsummitface2-WP-150x150.jpg</thumbnail>
  </item>
  <item>
   <title><![CDATA[Meet Sofia Iuteri &rsquo;27]]></title>
   <abstract><![CDATA[Iuteri&rsquo;s work with the Connolly Entrepreneurship Society and business administration professors has led to the expansion and growth of her own nonprofit.]]></abstract>
   <link>https://columns.wlu.edu/meet-sofia-iuteri-27/</link>
   <thumbnail>https://columns.wlu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Sofia-Iuteri-scaled-150x150.jpg?theia_smart_thumbnails_file_version=2</thumbnail>
  </item>
  <item>
   <title><![CDATA[Opportunity to Thrive]]></title>
   <abstract><![CDATA[Adhip Adhikari &rsquo;27 spent much of his summer creating a library at a secondary school near his family&#039;s home in Katmandu, Nepal.]]></abstract>
   <link>https://columns.wlu.edu/opportunity-to-thrive/</link>
   <thumbnail>https://columns.wlu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Adhip-Adhikari-2-wp-150x150.jpg</thumbnail>
  </item>
  <item>
   <title><![CDATA[Where the Wild Things Are]]></title>
   <abstract><![CDATA[Marcie Bernard &rsquo;25 explored the different avenues of veterinary medicine in the Amazon Rainforest as she worked to rehabilitate and rewild animals at Hoja Nueva. ]]></abstract>
   <link>https://columns.wlu.edu/where-the-wild-things-are/</link>
   <thumbnail>https://columns.wlu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG_0513-scaled-150x150.jpg?theia_smart_thumbnails_file_version=2</thumbnail>
  </item>
 </grants>
 <funds>
  <item>
   <title><![CDATA[Roots Pilgrimage]]></title>
   <abstract><![CDATA[Ryan Doty&rsquo;s summer passion project explored his family lineage through poetry and photography.]]></abstract>
   <link>https://columns.wlu.edu/roots-pilgrimage/</link>
   <thumbnail>https://columns.wlu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/IMG_8630wp-150x150.jpg</thumbnail>
  </item>
  <item>
   <title><![CDATA[An Advocate for Recovery Resources]]></title>
   <abstract><![CDATA[Katana Evans &#039;22 used summer enhancement funds to intern with Rep. Julia Brownley&#039;s office and Recovery Organization Resources.]]></abstract>
   <link>https://columns.wlu.edu/an-advocate-for-recovery-resources/</link>
   <thumbnail>https://columns.wlu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/evans-scaled-150x150.jpg?theia_smart_thumbnails_file_version=2</thumbnail>
  </item>
  <item>
   <title><![CDATA[&#8216;Intellectual Curiosity Without Boundaries&#8217;]]></title>
   <abstract><![CDATA[James Ricks &#039;21 is spending the summer working for The Oda Foundation in Nepal, where he is researching tobacco use and working with children to create a mural that represents health in their town.]]></abstract>
   <link>https://columns.wlu.edu/intellectual-curiosity-without-boundaries/</link>
   <thumbnail>https://columns.wlu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/DSC00512_1-150x150.jpg?theia_smart_thumbnails_file_version=2</thumbnail>
  </item>
  <item>
   <title><![CDATA[An Education in Place]]></title>
   <abstract><![CDATA[Kat Oakley &#039;19 has spent a lot of time contemplating the idea of &quot;place&quot; - both in Lexington and across the world.&nbsp;]]></abstract>
   <link>https://columns.wlu.edu/an-education-in-place/</link>
   <thumbnail>https://columns.wlu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Kat-Oakley-150x150.jpg?theia_smart_thumbnails_file_version=5?theia_smart_thumbnails_file_version=5?theia_smart_thumbnails_file_version=5?theia_smart_thumbnails_file_version=5?theia_smart_thumbnails_file_version=5?theia_smart_thumbnails_file_version=5?theia_smart_thumbnails_file_version=5?theia_smart_thumbnails_file_version=5</thumbnail>
  </item>
 </funds>
 <news>
  <item>
   <title><![CDATA[Students Encouraged to Apply for a Johnson Opportunity Grant in 2026]]></title>
   <abstract><![CDATA[The grant provides funds to support W&amp;L student projects worldwide.]]></abstract>
   <link>https://columns.wlu.edu/students-encouraged-to-apply-for-a-johnson-opportunity-grant-in-2026/</link>
   <thumbnail>https://columns.wlu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Isaac-James-150x150.png?theia_smart_thumbnails_file_version=2</thumbnail>
  </item>
  <item>
   <title><![CDATA[Studying Salamanders]]></title>
   <abstract><![CDATA[Summer Research Scholars Brian Kim &rsquo;26 and Ansley Stotts &rsquo;27 have spent their summer conducting field research in a unique outdoor classroom.]]></abstract>
   <link>https://columns.wlu.edu/studying-salamanders/</link>
   <thumbnail>https://columns.wlu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_9526-wp-150x150.jpg</thumbnail>
  </item>
  <item>
   <title><![CDATA[Students Encouraged to Apply for a Johnson Opportunity Grant in 2025]]></title>
   <abstract><![CDATA[The grant provides funds to support W&amp;L student projects worldwide.]]></abstract>
   <link>https://columns.wlu.edu/students-encouraged-to-apply-for-a-johnson-opportunity-grant-in-2025/</link>
   <thumbnail>https://columns.wlu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20230719_131751-WP-576x533-1-150x150.jpg?theia_smart_thumbnails_file_version=2</thumbnail>
  </item>
  <item>
   <title><![CDATA[Meet a Colleague: Elizabeth Knapp]]></title>
   <abstract><![CDATA[Elizabeth Knapp serves as director of the Johnson Program and professor of earth and environmental geoscience.]]></abstract>
   <link>https://columns.wlu.edu/meet-a-colleague-elizabeth-knapp/</link>
   <thumbnail>https://columns.wlu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Elizabeth-Knapp-scaled-150x150.jpg?theia_smart_thumbnails_file_version=2</thumbnail>
  </item>
 </news>
 <alumni>
  <item>
   <title><![CDATA[In The Lead: Linking Community and Career]]></title>
   <abstract><![CDATA[From a public health Volunteer Venture trip to alumni mentorship, the W&amp;L network opened doors and supported dreams for Liv Ullmann &rsquo;25.]]></abstract>
   <link>https://columns.wlu.edu/in-the-lead-linking-community-and-career/</link>
   <thumbnail>https://columns.wlu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Ullmann-2-scaled-150x150.jpg?theia_smart_thumbnails_file_version=2</thumbnail>
  </item>
  <item>
   <title><![CDATA[W&#038;L&rsquo;s Rossella Gabriele Among 2020 Class of Rhodes Scholars]]></title>
   <abstract><![CDATA[Gabriele, a 2019 graduate, is the university&rsquo;s 17th Rhodes Scholar.]]></abstract>
   <link>https://columns.wlu.edu/wls-rossella-gabriele-among-2020-class-of-rhodes-scholars/</link>
   <thumbnail>https://columns.wlu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Rossella-Gabriele-horiz-150x150.jpg?theia_smart_thumbnails_file_version=2</thumbnail>
  </item>
  <item>
   <title><![CDATA[The Future is Bioplastics]]></title>
   <abstract><![CDATA[Julianna Keeling &rsquo;19 applied her passion for the environment to build a company focused on biodegradable consumer products. ]]></abstract>
   <link>https://columns.wlu.edu/the-future-is-bioplastic/</link>
   <thumbnail>https://columns.wlu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Keeling-19-_Terravive_001-150x150.jpg?theia_smart_thumbnails_file_version=3</thumbnail>
  </item>
 </alumni>
</homepage>
