Thursday, November 21, 2019

A month before he graduates, Shah Soligné ’19 is feeling like he’s got the world on a string. The international studies student has been awarded a 2020 Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship.
 
The highly competitive national program supports those in the pursuit of a career in the U.S. Foreign Service. Following his graduation in December, Soligné plans to study ethics and human rights at American University in Washington, D.C. His work with the fellowship begins in May with an internship at the Department of State.
 
“I literally jumped out of bed screaming when I found out,” he said. “It was an honor to be a finalist, but shocking to know that I had made it over 800 people to become an official fellow. I rushed to the Office of International Programs to share the news with those who have supported me most during my time here.”
 
Prior to becoming a student at UNCW, Soligné served in the U.S. Army for six years as a member of NC National Guard. During his fifth year in the Army, he was deployed to Kosovo.

“I had planned to go to dental school upon my return, but the experience of living in a developing country with such a traumatic history and beautiful culture influenced my decision to come to UNCW,” he said. The Roseboro native first heard of the university from his high school social studies teacher, Michelle Smoak '97.
 
The former president and current co-president of the French Club, Soligné is also a co-founder of the United Nations Association of UNCW. The group participated in the UN Global Leadership Summit in February of this year.

-- Caroline Cropp
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