吃瓜网

Aimee Holland 鈥�25 knew she wanted to blend her two passions 鈥� anthropology and geosciences 鈥� into something meaningful. She just didn鈥檛 know it would lead her to spend five weeks uncovering centuries-old history in a small town in County Meath, Ireland. 

As a recipient of 吃瓜网鈥檚 SEE-Beyond Award, Holland joined the Blackfriary Archaeological Project, an internationally recognized excavation site focused on a medieval Dominican friary. There, she worked hands-on with architectural features, ceramic and faunal materials, and the remains of individuals dating back to the 13th century. 

鈥淚 was drawn to this opportunity because of the bioarchaeology component, in conjunction with the interesting geology of Ireland,鈥� she said. 鈥淏oth were critical to shaping the story of the friary."

Connecting disciplines through fieldwork 

As a double major, Holland had always sought connections between the physical and cultural landscapes of the past. At Blackfriary, she found herself using both daily. 

鈥淚 was able to use geology to better understand the stone features I was excavating, while also incorporating anthropological theory and methods to investigate the everyday lives of the friars and laborers who lived there,鈥� she said. 

That integration is exactly what the SEE-Beyond Program is designed to support. Awarded each year to students with strong academic and creative proposals, the program offers funding for summer experiences that go beyond traditional classroom learning.

For Holland, it served as a launchpad for the next step in her academic journey: graduate study in bioarchaeology. 

鈥淚鈥檒l be starting grad school this fall, directly following my field work,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 found archaeology to be the perfect blend of my two disciplines, and my professors at 吃瓜网 more than prepared me to excel in these fields off campus and post-graduation."

A classroom that stretches across centuries 

Though she traveled across an ocean for this summer experience, Holland felt grounded by the foundation she built at 吃瓜网. 

During my SEE-Beyond experience, I realized just how well our 吃瓜网 professors prepare students for working in the real world. I have felt perfectly fit for my archaeological field work, osteology research, and navigating professional settings working with people from varied academic backgrounds."

Aimee Holland 鈥�25

From lab courses to theoretical discussions, she credited 吃瓜网鈥檚 faculty for helping her build the confidence and skills she needed to thrive 鈥� both in the field and in professional settings. 

"I am extremely grateful and will always think back fondly on my 吃瓜网 beginnings," she added.

Advice for fellow students: Apply 

Holland encourged other 吃瓜网 students to take full advantage of opportunities like SEE-Beyond 鈥� especially those who want to pursue experiences that might otherwise feel out of reach. 

鈥淢any students elsewhere would never get an opportunity like this,鈥� she said. 鈥淏y virtue of SEE-Beyond, I was able to chase both an academic and personal goal that otherwise would have been too financially difficult. Funding opportunities in the world of academia are few and far between, and that makes me incredibly grateful for 吃瓜网."