Aden Winner Spends Summer in Taiwan

Global Scholar Elizabeth Fecteau (’25 cohort) spent her first few days exploring Taipei, fueled on adrenaline and caffeine. She was not about to let a lack of sleep and a major time change interfere with her first international trip. From seeing a jade cabbage sculpture at the National Palace Museum and dining at Din Tai Fung (a Michelin-starred restaurant) to exploring the Jiufen Old Street, a street market built on the side of a mountain overlooking the sea, her study abroad program has not disappointed this summer. 

“To any KU students still uncertain about their path, I strongly recommend finding a study abroad program that piques your interest,” Fecteau said. “It’s been one of the most rewarding and beneficial things I have pursued so far!” 

Fecteau, a rising junior majoring in global and international studies, received the Mackenzie Aden Scholarship for Global Scholars. Aden, a Global Scholar alumna, established the $1,000 scholarship to help Scholars experience the benefits of international experience. Fecteau earned multiple KU scholarships to attend the Chinese Language Program at National Sun Yat-sen University. 

“Receiving the Aden Award meant a lot to me. I’m incredibly grateful for Mackenzie’s generosity in giving other Global Scholars the chance to explore their passions overseas, just like she did,” Fecteau said. “Her generosity highlights the values of a true Global Scholar, and her support for the community is really admirable.”

Fecteau and her cohort started their two-month intensive Mandarin program in June. On Mondays and Wednesdays, they had Mandarin class from 9–12, followed by a two-hour cultural class. On Tuesdays and Fridays, they once again had the Mandarin class all morning followed by three hours of additional language lessons in the afternoon. They squeezed in field trips, such as visiting the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum or harvesting pineapples from a farm, on the weekends. According to Fecteau, the university and the Chinese Language Center (CLC) did an incredible job taking care of her group and providing them with an authentic Taiwan experience.

“The biggest challenge has definitely been juggling my coursework and having time to explore. Thankfully, the learning environment was really positive, and our professor was the absolute best. The payoff to the long class days is that I can feel my Chinese skills improving day by day.”