For most, the transition from college to career is a straight line. For Lucy Bamford ’22, it’s a global expedition.
Currently a senior at Ursinus College, Lucy was recently named a recipient of the prestigious Thomas J. Watson Fellowship. This highly selective honor — awarded to only about 40 graduating seniors annually from 41 partner institutions — provides a $40,000 stipend for a year of independent, international discovery. The fellowship looks for individuals with “unusual promise, initiative and independence” rather than just academic merit.
To anyone who had the pleasure of knowing Lucy, this award comes as no surprise. Her ascent to the global stage feels like a natural progression. During her time at Gunston, Lucy was a force of nature. Even as she navigated the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, she remained deeply anchored in school life.
As the 2022 Gunston Award winner, Senior Class President, Green Team Captain and Senior Yearbook Editor, Lucy proved herself to be a leader, scholar, and athlete who could manage complex projects with poise. Whether leading the field hockey team as captain or editing the yearbook, she modeled the resourcefulness and independence that the Watson Foundation prizes above all else.
“My experience at Gunston sowed the seeds for what I am doing now,” Lucy reflects. “Bay Studies really sparked my interest in the environment, and the school gave me the confidence to get involved in my community at Ursinus.” Over the last four years, Lucy has been involved in many different groups and projects, including studying abroad in Sydney, Australia where she interned at a composting company, doing personal sustainable waste management research on diabetes devices.
A double major in Environmental Studies and Politics, Lucy’s passion evolved into a sophisticated study of circular economies and reuse systems. Her Watson Fellowship project, “Exploring Community Approaches to Waste and Sustainability,” will take her to India, Ghana, Japan, Brazil, and Denmark.
Her goal is to highlight sustainable methods that are often overlooked in Western contexts. “I’m interested to see how these methods challenge my previously held beliefs about what sustainability even means,” Lucy explains. “I’m excited to start the on-the-ground experience in places I would have only ever dreamed of going!” As she prepares for 12 months of travel, she encourages current Gunston students to embrace the unknown.
“I would have never thought my post-grad plans would involve traveling and pursuing a passion project — let alone a project about trash,” she says. “Yet, through all of the opportunities that I took advantage of at Ursinus, stemming from the interests and passions I began to tap into as a Gunston student, I was able to push myself through the initial discomfort of these new situations and environments to find what matters to me and continue to chase that. Being open to new ideas, perspectives, and experiences, I believe, can take you far in life, no matter your intended major or path.”
Good luck and safe travels Lucy!