
But first she’s set on transferring to UC San Diego and its Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Master of International Affairs.
Her passion – and her academic excellence – are among the reasons Challe, 22, recently earned an Osher scholarship from the Foundation for Grossmont & Cuyamaca Colleges. The money is helping to cover the cost of attending Grossmont College this year, and it comes in addition to a scholarship she earned last summer that allowed her to study in Germany and serve an internship with the Abgeordnetenhaus, or parliament.
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Challe with German instructor Astrid Ronke |
Challe, 22, grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, including San Francisco, Pacifica, Petaluma, and Santa Rosa. When she turned 18, Challe ventured abroad to work as an au pair in Italy, a move that changed her life. Living in Europe during the refugee crisis, she saw the suffering of so many as so much of Europe turned its back to the problem. Immersing herself in books such as "The Other Hand," "The Kite Runner" and "A Thousand Splendid Suns" furthered her resolve.