Katelynn Clukey of Smithfield, a Shenandoah University student, recently embarked on a trip to Taiwan alongside nine other students, faculty and staff members as part of the university’s Global Citizenship Project.

The trip, which took place during Shenandoah’s spring break, began with a 10-hour layover in Istanbul, Turkey, where the group visited a collection of historical sights, such as the Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, and Hagia Sofia.

Upon their arrival in Taipei, they hit the ground running. First on the agenda was touring the Longshan Temple, where they learned about the role of religion and spirituality in Taiwanese culture. Later, they visited the Presidential Palace in Taipei, which is the Taiwanese equivalent of the White House in the U.S.

Some of the most memorable experiences from the trip, however, come from their visits to the University of Taipei, and to the former high school of Shenandoah Conservatory’s Associate Dean for Academic Success and Professor of Dance Ting-Yu Chen, who led the GCP trip.

At the University of Taipei, the group visited several classes, learned about the educational system of Taiwan, and interacted with students. Clukey, who is pursuing a bachelor of fine arts in dance, was even able to participate in a Chinese dance class in spite of the language barrier, proving how universal dance can be. The group also visited the university’s second campus, which focused more heavily on physical therapy, to visit its state-of-the-art labs.

Another highlight of the trip was the group’s visit to Chen’s former high school, which gave the group a warm welcome. School administrators had prepared for weeks for Shenandoah’s visit, and had arranged a full day of activities in Shenandoah’s honor. From tours, to cooking lessons, and even to calligraphy classes, the GCP group spent the day interacting with Taiwanese students and learning about their culture, forming unforgettable memories in the process.

The Shenandoah group also learned about the Taiwanese health-care system at Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital; visited the Taiwan Indigenous Peoples Cultural Park, Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum, and Anping Fort; and took a boat ride through the Sicao Green Tunnel.

Shenandoah University’s Global Citizenship Project celebrated its 20th year in 2025 and sent students, faculty and staff members to Colombia, Nepal, Poland, Taiwan and Tanzania this spring. Since its inaugural year in 2005, GCP has sent over 1,400 students, staff, faculty, and trustees to over 70 countries and seven U.S. states and territories so that each participant might learn more about the world and themselves.