LWHS students are global citizens! For the past two summers and thanks to a generous donor, Lick-Wilmerding has sent students all over the world to learn and grow. Here are some quick highlights from the three amazing trips we went on this summer:

---

Where: Mexico City & Guanajuato

When: June 19-July 3, 2026

Who: Students Colin S. '29, Franny F. '29, Juan Y. '28, Keira R. '29, Lilah R. '28, Lucia W. '27, Queen E. '28, Sana W. '28, Shahvir B. '28; chaperoned by Samu Cortez, Tech Arts Teacher and Laralyn Bergstedt, Science Teacher

LWHS students and teachers traveled to Mexico on a trip designed to foster cultural exchange and global awareness by immersing themselves in Mexico’s vibrant tradition of design, technology, craft, and sustainable manufacturing.

"I loved being immersed in the Mexican culture, and learning about traditional Mexican arts/architecture, and connecting it to modern digital design. It was awesome to try the most delectable foods, and speaking Spanish with the locals helped me grow as a Spanish speaker and also as an individual who is able to connect and relate with people across cultures!"

-Shahvir B. ‘28

“The highlight of the trip was seeing the joy and excitement of everyone throughout the experience. I loved building deeper connections with the students while also having the opportunity to share my culture with them. Guiding them through the pyramids of Teotihuacán and sharing the Mexica cosmovision with them was incredibly meaningful. I also loved seeing the students experience such a wide range of ways of making and learning on the same trip. Watching them try out a robotic arm and then make paper by hand was priceless.”

—Samu Cortez, Tech Arts Teacher

---

Where: The Villars Symposium, Switzerland

When: June 11–20, 2026

Who: Students Tillie C. '27, Violet W. '27, Niam J. '28, Koan K. '28; chaperoned by Danielle Farinacci, Head Librarian and Global Program Coordinator

Each summer, LWHS sends students to the Villars Symposium to take learning beyond the classroom—giving young leaders the chance to tackle real-world climate challenges alongside international experts and peers, while bringing fresh ideas back to improve our own school community.

"One of the most important concepts that I learned at Villars is that the practice of environmental sustainability is never passive, it is always active and done collectively. We often idly think about doing environmentally friendly work, like picking up a piece of trash, but few people do it. True environmental sustainability comes down to an active mindset, one that questions how one object can affect the broader systems around us."

—Koan K. ‘28

“Lick’s mission is to create graduates who 'contribute to the world with confidence and compassion.' At Villars, we put our students out into an environment where confidence was a baseline requirement, and the compassion they showed while learning to address climate change was inspiring. It was an incredible opportunity for them to deepen their passions and serve as climate leaders in their communities and beyond.”

—Danielle Farinacci, Head Librarian and Global Program Coordinator

---

Where: Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai

When: June 7–18, 2026

Who: Students Cameron B. '27, Carolyn P. '28, Elissa C. '27, Isa B. '28, Kazu G. '27, Logan E. '27, Lucas W. '27, Lucas Y. '27, Maxxy F. '27, Mia F. '27, Samuel B. '27, William C. '27, Zion G. '27; chaperoned by Min Larson, Mandarin Teacher and Krista Klein, Co-Director of College Counseling

The China Trip brings classroom Mandarin to life for LWHS students—giving them the chance to use Mandarin to navigate real-world situations while also experiencing China’s rich culture and history and building meaningful connections with local communities.

“This trip made me realize just how simultaneously vast and intricate any language can be, and that speaking more fluently requires paying attention to details and understanding that there is often a more natural way of saying things depending on the context. This made me think of speaking and listening in a more mature way, but also made me realize how far I have to go.”

—Isa B. ‘28

"This trip was incredible. There was such a great balance between learning and fun for the students. All the active participation activities were awesome—dumpling making, the tea ceremony, doing calligraphy, sugar painting, kung fu, biking on the Xi'an city wall, the boat ride at Zhujiajiao—it was just incredible to have such variety, so impressive!"

— Krista Klein, Co-Director of College Counseling

Keep the conversation going: ask a student or chaperone named above about their trip!