2/16/2026 Debra Levey Larson
Written by Debra Levey Larson
Just about a month ago, 16 engineering undergraduate students and two instructors returned from a short study abroad trip over winter break to South Africa.
Instructors, Laura Gerhold and Matt Hausman, led the trip with students Anika Bansal, Adora Ude, Maya Yohannes, Katheryn Kramek, Defne Tiritoglu, Jazlyn Teoh, Kebron Ghedamu, Liam Witt, Aljawan Abdulrahim, Aalia Angirish, Bitania Negash, Ashley Sawa, Ethan Massey, James Lippert, Amber Parker and Madelyn O'Connell.
Aljawan Abdulrahim is a senior in aerospace engineering.
“Although I haven’t traveled that much, coming to Illinois from Saudi Arabia definitely increased my traveling experience. I've never been to South Africa before, so during the trip I was able to learn a lot. I think the overall experience was extremely informational. I was able to connect with my friends and classmates. The trip taught me how important it is to experience and talk to people from different cultures as the media doesn’t capture enough of the true experience.
“The country has beautiful scenery, culture, and delicious food. The hospitality of people was incredible. They were extremely welcoming and taught us a lot about their history and culture. I definitely would say the trip teaches you a lot about yourself, about how much you know about different cultures and challenges any misconceptions you have.”
The trip included a stop at Cloudline, an aerospace company just outside of Cape Town, where they learned about how the company’s autonomous flight technology is improving agriculture across the globe. They also visited the South African National Space Agency, as well as other aerospace related companies and organizations around Cape Town.
Aalia Angirish is also a senior in aerospace engineering. She said she has visited about 15 countries so far. This was her second trip to South Africa, having traveled there with her family in 2018.
“I learned much more about South African traditions and food, and I had meaningful conversations with people who lived through apartheid about their lived experiences and the nation’s history.
“It was also really eye-opening to learn about the incredible aviation and space technology being developed in South Africa because I hadn't heard much about the aerospace industry there.”
There was also a STEM outreach event with children from a Cape Town neighborhood, ages 7 to 11. The students designed activities involving straw rockets; balloon-powered cars, popsicle stick structures, and a gravity field demonstration. Then they accompanied the children to a local science museum.