By creating opportunities for student participation in conferences and professional gatherings, Guided Pathways funding helps Gettysburg students develop leadership, communication, and career-building skills, while connecting their academic passions to real-world impact.
Beginning this year, Gettysburg College provided funding for students to attend national conferences and conventions through the Guided Pathways, creating access where it didn’t exist before. This funding allows students to pursue experiences that deepen their learning and expand their professional networks.
Through the Guided Pathways program, Gettysburg students integrate intellectual exploration with hands-on experiences designed to build enduring skills—leadership, collaboration, communication, and civic engagement. Yet for many students, the most transformative learning happens when they step into the wider world: presenting research, attending national conferences, and connecting with scholars and advocates shaping today’s most pressing conversations.
“We know that students grow when they’re placed in new environments where they can challenge themselves, share their perspectives, and build community,” said Senior Co-curricular Advisor Cara Smith. “When applying for conference funding, we ask students to discuss their interest in attending the conference and how it relates to their future goals and their pursuit of a Guided Pathway. We ask students to submit a budget, and so far we’ve been able to fund everyone who has asked.”
Below are short reflections from four students who took advantage of these new opportunities.
Student Spotlight: Prabesh Bista ’26
Hometown: Kathmandu, Nepal
Major: Computer science
Minor: Economics
Guided Pathway: Career Development
Prabesh Bista ’26 recently attended the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) National Conference. This major professional gathering connects STEM students with representatives from leading technology companies such as NVIDIA, Amazon, Meta, and Apple.
“I chose to attend this conference because it provides a unique platform for students in STEM to connect directly with industry professionals,” Bista shared. “I wanted to learn about real-world applications of engineering and explore career opportunities in software development and data-driven innovation.”
The cost of attendance, including travel and lodging, made participation challenging, but Guided Pathways funding made the experience possible. Bista was able to witness the latest trends in technology, expand his professional network, and gain insight into what employers are looking for in potential candidates. The experience also strengthened Bista’s understanding of how the concepts he’s learning in his classes at Gettysburg will translate into industry contexts.
“The connections and knowledge I gained will guide my path toward securing a new graduate position in software engineering and continuing to grow as a technically strong and community-oriented professional,” Bista said.
Student Spotlight: Natalie Frisch ’27
Hometown: Nazareth, Pennsylvania
Majors: International and global studies, anthropology
Minors: French, Middle East and Islamic studies
Guided Pathways: Global Citizenship and Intercultural Fluency; Leadership, Teamwork, and Collaboration
For Natalie Frisch ’27, attending the Alpha Phi Omega (APO) National Convention this December is an opportunity to strengthen her leadership skills and represent Gettysburg College among more than 350 active chapters from across the country. As president of Gettysburg’s APO chapter, Frisch has found a deep sense of purpose in the organization’s commitment to leadership, friendship, and service.
“I am excited to meet people who are as interested in service and leadership as I am,” Frisch said. “At the convention, we will participate in leadership workshops and service projects that help us develop our leadership and organization skills, which we can apply to our own chapters.”
The event will be particularly special for Frisch, who is serving as a voting delegate and will take part in APO’s 100th anniversary celebration. Guided Pathways funding helped pave the way for this opportunity, covering registration and hotel fees.
“Because I received funding through the Guided Pathways, our chapter’s resources can now support other members and initiatives,” Frisch said. “This experience lets me grow as a leader and helps our community grow with me.”
Student Spotlight: Wali Muhammad ’28
Hometown: Lahore, Pakistan
Major: Mathematical economics
Minor: Data science
Guided Pathways: Justice and Community Change; Leadership, Teamwork, and Collaboration
Wali Muhammad ’28 attended the Peace and Justice Studies Association (PJSA) Annual Conference, where he shared his project on menstrual health education in rural Pakistan—an initiative supported by his earlier Mattson Grant experience through the Center for Public Service (CPS) at Gettysburg.
“The conference offered a unique opportunity to represent Gettysburg and learn from others advancing social equity through community action,” Muhammad said. “I learned that sustainable justice work relies on collaboration, empathy, and storytelling. Local initiatives can create global ripple effects when supported by research, partnerships, and dialogue.”
He returned inspired by the power of collaborative change and plans to integrate these insights into his academic and professional aspirations.
“I hope to combine my training in economics with my commitment to justice, continuing to build programs that empower underrepresented communities,” said Muhammad.
Student Spotlight: Oumye Toure ’27
Hometown: New York, New York
Majors: Political science, interdisciplinary studies
Minors: Peace and justice, Africana studies
Guided Pathway: Justice and Community Change
When Oumye Toure ’27 attended the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference, she saw firsthand how policy, advocacy, and lived experience intersect to shape the lives of Black communities across the world.
“The conference offered us the opportunity to engage directly with advocates and government actors, gain insight into policymaking, and explore how legislation impacts Black communities on a national and global scale,” Toure said. “I engaged with different perspectives and learned from educators, activists, politicians, exonerees, criminal justice reform advocates, and lawyers.”
Through panels and conversations, she learned how sustained community engagement leads reconciliation and meaningful community and system-level change. She plans to continue this work—both on campus as president of the Anti-Racist Collective and in her future career.
“Empowering and serving communities means remaining consistent,” reflected Toure, who intends to go to law school after graduation. “Helping local businesses, providing educational opportunities, lending an ear to constituents, fostering unity, and being meaningfully engaged are critical steps to building a strong relationship with the communities you serve.”
Sustaining success through support
The Guided Pathways are built on the belief that every student should have access to meaningful, purpose-driven learning—and that cost should never be the barrier. For students, the impact is immediate and lasting: confidence, clarity, professional direction. It’s the assurance that their education connects to something larger than themselves.
This year’s conference support comes from institutional strategic funding, but Assistant Vice President for Co-Curricular Education Jim Duffy noted that long-term sustainability is contingent on donor support.
“For years, there was really no way to get funding for conferences,” Duffy said. “Students have always wanted to get funding for them. We just haven’t had a source—and now we do. If we can grow that fund, we can keep making these opportunities possible.”
Develop the knowledge and skills you need to excel through the Guided Pathways.
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By Corey Jewart
Photos provided by subjects
Posted: 11/18/25
