JJC Students Selected for Prestigious Summer Global Leadership Institute

Joliet Junior College students Abigail Camacho and Jul Hwangbo were among just 30 students selected from more than 100 applicants nationwide to participate in the Summer Global Leadership Institute, a Community Colleges for International Development program hosted by Borough of Manhattan Community College in New York City.

Representing one of 10 states included in the program, Camacho and Hwangbo spent seven days exploring global diplomacy, sustainability and international affairs through workshops, seminars and cultural experiences across New York City.

The institute included visits to the United Nations Headquarters, Wall Street, the World Trade Center and several museums and cultural centers. Students also engaged with diplomats, policy experts and nonprofit leaders who discussed topics ranging from international development and public service to ethics and global inequality.

"New York challenged me in the best way possible," Camacho said. "I came home more confident in myself, my ability to travel independently and my future career goals."

As part of the experience, students completed capstone projects tied to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals while developing leadership, communication and collaboration skills. Hwangbo worked with a team to develop a proposal supporting sustainable industrial development in Belize, exploring how investments in infrastructure, tourism and local industries could help diversify the country's economy while creating jobs and reducing reliance on agriculture. Camacho focused on Sustainable Development Goal 4, Quality Education, researching educational disparities in Brazil and examining how access to education can influence communities, public policy and long-term opportunity.

For Hwangbo, the program strengthened an interest in public policy and global development while providing new perspectives on how diplomacy can help address complex global challenges.

The experience also highlighted the opportunities available to community college students. Through conversations with peers from across the country and former community college students who have gone on to attend institutions such as Columbia University, Camacho and Hwangbo gained a deeper appreciation for the pathways available to them.

"It showed us that these opportunities are attainable," the students said. "Your starting point doesn't limit where you can go."

Both students said the program reinforced an important lesson: global learning does not always require international travel.

"Sometimes, meaningful exposure to new cultures, ideas and perspectives can happen closer to home," said Michelle Vale, international student services manager. "Whether through study abroad or immersive domestic experiences like the Global Leadership Institute, stepping outside one's comfort zone can be just as transformative."

As they return to campus, both students hope to share what they learned with others and encourage fellow Wolves to pursue opportunities beyond the classroom. Their experience serves as a reminder that global learning can take many forms and that JJC students are capable of making an impact far beyond their local community.

Camacho and Hwangbo expressed their gratitude to the JJC Foundation and the Center for Multicultural Access and Success for helping make their participation in the institute possible. Camacho also thanked JJC Career Services for its guidance and support in helping prepare her to pursue competitive opportunities such as the Global Leadership Institute.