Global Scholars, a Westridge Upper School program that allows students to create their own, multi-year transdisciplinary study of a modern-day global issue, wrapped up the year with TED Talk-style research presentations from five seniors in the program, Adelaide C., Keira K., Nina K., Vivian S., and Josie T. Their projects investigated:  

• How do Financial Barriers to Implementing Medium- to Heavy- Duty Vehicles Differ Between Developed and Developing Nations?—Adelaide examined the financial and infrastructure barriers preventing developing nations from adopting green transportation and explored possible solutions through public transit, investment, and global cooperation. 

• Threats to Journalists in Mexico— Keira investigated the dangers journalists face in Mexico, analyzing violence against the press, government protection efforts, and impacts on democracy and free speech.  

• Social Contextualization Bridging People and Policy: Mental Health Care for Women in India—Nina examined how India’s mental health policies have historically reflected Western ideals that often conflict with the country’s collectivist values and the lived experiences of women in India seeking mental health support. 

• What are the Environmental Impacts of Social Media Platforms GloballY—Vivian studied the hidden environmental costs of social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and X, focusing on energy use, carbon emissions, and digital consumption.  

• The October 7th Attacks: How Instagram Changed Perspectives and Spread Hatred—Josie explored how misinformation and propaganda spread online following the October 7 attacks. Through interviews and analysis of online rhetoric, Josie examined how shared content, propaganda, and narratives can deepen division and fuel hatred, fear, and misunderstanding across different communities. 

Reflecting on her experience, Nina K. shared, “My research taught me just how important it is to be a young person who wants to question and understand the world and what it means to be a global citizen.”  

Speakers Series 

The scholars host an annual speaker series attended by all Upper School students, prompting their peers to look at important, timely issues from a global perspective. 

This year’s spring speaker—hosted by Sarineh G. ’28—was Westridge alumna Maral Tavitian ’13, managing director of the USC Institute of Armenian Studies, who spoke about the contemporary Armenian community. 

Tavitian’s visit came during Armenian History and Heritage Month, which culminates with Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day. “The Armenian experience is a human experience,” said Tavitian. “…All of you come from somewhere and I encourage you to learn about it.” 

She touched upon identity, history, and what it means to live between cultures. She introduced students to the Armenian diasporic experience and the concept of “diaspora” not simply as migration, but of dispersion by force or oppression, and as a concept of identity formed from generational displacement and connection to one’s heritage. She presented work from the academic fields of the study of diaspora and Armenian history, as well as from her own experience of developing an identity connected to her family’s history. 

“The Global Fellows in our program continue to impress us each year with the depth of research, creativity, and commitment they bring to their projects. Through this experience, students take a deep dive into global issues they are passionate about while developing critical investigative, communication, and leadership skills. From connecting directly with experts in their fields of study to presenting their findings to the broader community, students are challenged to step outside of their comfort zones and engage thoughtfully with complex global topics. These projects not only prepare students for the kind of culminating work they will encounter in higher education, but also help cultivate the empathy, global perspective, and leadership skills needed in today’s world. We are also deeply grateful to the alumnae who have participated in our Global Speaker Series and who exemplify the kind of thoughtful, engaged global leaders we hope all our students will become.”
 —Dr. Jessica Pérez del Toro, Global Scholars Committee Chair