Hannah Tripoli's Umbra Institute Experience

Hannah Tripoli is a junior in Mechanical Engineering and spent the Fall 2024 semester studying at the Umbra Institute in Italy. This decision offered her both unexpected challenges and many rewards. While she initially hoped to connect with more fellow Hokies abroad, Hannah quickly found a vibrant community of U.S. students and embraced the unique academic culture. One of her biggest surprises was discovering a love for Renaissance art through a class that pushed her intellectually and creatively. 

The favorite memory from her trip was her fall break trip through Switzerland, Malta, and Prague which was a trip she had always hoped to take. She especially loved getting to take a break from the rigor of her engineering courses while abroad.  

Reflecting on her experience, Hannah encourages other engineering students to consider studying abroad not only for the academics, but also the personal growth. “It gave me the reset I needed,” she shared, noting how the break helped her avoid burnout and return with renewed focus. 

Hannah also emphasized the importance of early planning with advisors and choosing a lighter course load if possible, especially for those not fluent in the host country’s language. The experience didn’t just enrich her perspective but it also helped her better connect with global teams during her time on the Bolt design team and her internship at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab.