A Blog on McConnell Center Life

By Bryson Sebastian      This fall, I had the opportunity to attend a student conference at the United States Air Force Academy alongside two fellow McConnell Scholars, a cohort of USAFA Cadets, and a select group of international affairs-minded college students from across the country – our challenge: identify and analyze the actions of China in the 21st century. For three days, we roamed the halls and rooms in Colorado Springs, broken into over a dozen various groups ranging from Chinese Culture & Ideology to Emerging Technologies. Every aspect of the Chinese State, the Chinese Communist Party, and the Chinese relationship with the United States was examined as we strove to further understand the rising superpower. We were asked to assume the roles of subject matter experts, to determine what course our nations will take – should we continue our recent policy of strategic competition? Is there room to shift towards an era of cooperation? Or has Thucydides’ Trap been...

By Caleb Aridano      Conducting research at Yale this summer was exciting for a plethora of reasons. From the world-renowned libraries to the esteemed faculty to my glorious studio apartment in downtown New Haven, I was prepared for a vigorous summer of learning, academic discipline, and meaningful bioethics research. While these expectations were fulfilled to a considerable extent, the most remarkable dimension of my summer transcended the confines of the campus, the ivy-covered walls, and the pages of law books—it resided within the diverse and extraordinary individuals who shared the program with me.      The program I was selected to attend boasted itself as an international research program drawing applicants from dozens of countries and inviting many international fellows to campus for the intensive 7-week program. Of the 30 participants that summer, 20 hailed from different countries ranging from China to Israel to Brazil to Singapore, and many more...

By Sawyer Depp I didn’t really know what to expect at an Ethics Conference in West Point. I had a few conversations with another scholar about SCUSA, and I thought it might be a bunch of Ivy Leaguers trying to flex their knowledge of Voltaire or Spinoza. And I was ready. I had loaded my philosophical pistol with Camus and Cato, Machiavelli and Plato. But the fact was that we didn’t talk about any of those names. In fact, the only philosopher we spoke about directly was Sartre and for only a few minutes. Instead, we talked about ethics in practice. Finding the spirit to do the right thing regardless of the consequences. Now of course, I loved this, and I cannot say enough about the actual content of the conference. But that is not what I want to write about. See, the thing that amazed me was not the generals I was able to meet, or the campus, or the chance to stay in the barracks, or the collection of artifacts from General Eisenhower and General Macarthur. The thing that amazed me the ...

By Katie Hayden      On Thursday, November 16th, the McConnell Center celebrated its 10th annual “Thinksgiving,” a McHoliday loved by every scholar. During Thinksgiving, we gather as a McConnell family to give thanks for “thinks” we are thankful for thinking. We laugh, cry, and reflect on the many lessons we have learned or ideas we have had over the past year. With this being my fourth and final Thinksgiving, I found myself reflecting not only on the thoughts I was thankful for thinking but also on those everyone else shared. I was blown away by the lessons my friends shared and found myself feeling most thankful that I have the privilege of surrounding myself with such wonderful people.       This year, I am thankful for Macy and Camryn who reminded me to be intentional in saying “yes” and that “no” is not a dirty word. I’m thankful to Joe and Karmyn for reminding me that it’s okay to get away from my “five year plan” and take the road less traveled....

By Sawyer Depp To step beyond what is known, Strikes fear in those Who have never been before. Like a bird who’s never flown: Leaving its nest, Bearing its wings, Puffing its chest, Daring to take Its Next Step To step beyond what is known. It is for us to decide How we spend time’s brevity. Like the stars above our heads, Beckoning to us, so intensely, We dream of them, but; Surely, We will never reach them. To step beyond what is known. To brave the great expanse. Some call it insanity. Like a sailor alone at sea: Lost by most, But not by He. His hands outreach To those same stars: The dreams of You and me. Like the bird who flies, Or the sailor who sails, Let us be who we were called to be. So go. Dare to find Your own humanity. Sawyer , of Fort Thomas, Ky., is a member of the McConnell Scholars class of 2024 at the University of Louisville. He studies political science, history, and creative writing.

By Paighton Brooks      On Saturday, October 28 th , 2023, I had the privilege and honor of being crowned University of Louisville’s Homecoming Queen. This is an honor I dreamed of since my freshman year at UofL, and I am ecstatic to follow in the footsteps of so many women that have come before me. The University of Louisville has given me so much. I have met so many amazing people, found my dreams and future career aspirations, and developed into adulthood. To serve as an ambassador for the University, means so much to me, and represents a culmination of my hard work and dedication to my academics, leadership development, pushing myself to be better each day.       This win means a lot to me for a myriad of reasons but one that has particularly impacted by undergraduate is experience is triumphing as a young black woman at a predominantly white institution (PWI). My time at UofL has not been with without it challenges. From hate speech and threats on...

By Jacob Banta      This past summer my class of McConnell Scholars had a wonderful opportunity to visit the Mediterranean world. Particular highlights included Rome and Athens. As a Christian it was a unique experience to be present where sections of biblical history unfolded. Specifically, I would like to reflect on my experience of being where the Apostle Paul once stood in the city of Athens and defended the faith. The Acts of the Apostles records Paul’s time in Athens as follows –  Acts 17:16-34 16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. 18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was...

By Mary Catherine Medley      Stai zitto. As a child, this is the only Italian phrase that I was consistently met with upon begging my Granddaddy Cecconi to teach me his native language. Its meaning (shut up!) perfectly encapsulated his feelings toward his overly-curious granddaughter who so longed to learn more about his intriguing upbringing. Although unwilling to endure the task of becoming my personal language instructor, my granddaddy frequently shared accounts of his family history, as well as his experience growing up as an Italian-American, all with a strong sense of pride. His accounts served as the beginning of a patchwork quilt, stitching together memories of homemade pasta in his family's kitchen, the salty air of the Carrara coast, and of walking down quiet cobblestone streets on a warm Italian afternoon. From a young age, it was stories like these that ignited in me an eagerness to learn more about this unfamiliar land that held so much of my rich family hi...

By Yelena Bagdasaryan A few months ago, I made the decision to apply to attend the week-long Student Conference on U.S. Affairs at West Point Military Academy as the representative for the McConnell Center. SCUSA’s theme this year was innovation and the future of American foreign policy, and the goal of the conference is for each roundtable topic to create a policy memo addressed to the President, which is presented at the end of the conference. I was immediately interested because this is exactly the type of work I want to pursue, given my career goals in public health policy and international affairs. However, I hesitated to apply because I was unsure if I was qualified enough to attend or if I was taking away this opportunity from someone else who really wanted it. Thankfully, I was chosen to attend the conference a week ago, and I can confidently say that I am beyond grateful that I took the opportunity to apply. Despite the exhaustion from not sleeping the night before my arrival ...

By Yelena Bagdasaryan      Achieving optimal maternal health is critical to mothers across the Commonwealth and affects future generations in our communities. Nationally, improving maternal health has been a focus area due to high maternal mortality rates across the country. Kentucky also experiences similar negative maternal health outcomes with our maternal morbidity rate being the second highest in the country.  In 2018, Kentucky’s maternal mortality rate was 40.8 per 100,000 live births. This is significantly higher than the national rate of 17.4.  In 2021 Kentucky was among the states with the most c-section deliveries, which increases risk for maternal mortality.   Kentucky also has some of the largest disparities within maternal health, with Black women in Kentucky experiencing maternal pregnancy-related death at a rate three times that of White women.  Despite these outcomes, evidence shows that more than 90% of maternal mortali...

By Jacob Crowley   To those not native to the Northern Kentucky-Cincinnati area, Skyline Chili seems a perversion of two already delicious but very separate foods: Spaghetti and Chili. The two mixed together seems a disgusting combination that has no place in someone’s diet. While at first glance, this snap judgment may appear accurate, once given a closer look, the beauty of the Cincinnati Style Chili tradition shows its true colors. When many hear the combination of chili and spaghetti, their minds are filled with the image of the traditional Texas style chili with beans and chunks of beef over noodles, completely different from the actual meal. Skyline Chili is Cincinnati style chili, a sauce like chili, rather than a soup, derived from Greek influence and different in taste and substance. It is very thin so that it can be served over things rather than eaten by itself. While you could order a bowl of it, you would be disappointed because it does not compare to a bowl of hardy T...