EDGE project or achieving the perceived

impossible? SUU senior does it all.

Published: September 4, 2019 I Location: Cedar City, Utah

SUU senior, Karsen Cardinal, completed her EDGE project this past summer by studying abroad
with SUU’s psychology department. Each year, SUU’s psychology department conducts a two-
week study abroad, and this past year, the department studied abroad in Italy. Karsen had
always wanted to study abroad but did not realize the possibility of the opportunity until it was
suggested by her academic advisor, Andrea Donovan, to study abroad for her EDGE project. The
study abroad took place May 4, 2019-May 19, 2019. During this time, Karsen was able to travel
throughout the country of Italy, witnessing both the natural and man-made beauty within the
country. This project was funded through the Early Bird scholarship from the Office of Learning
Abroad at SUU, and the EDGE scholarship from the EDGE office at SUU. In addition to the
scholarships that Karsen earned, her efforts to save money by working part-time at Utah
Behavior Services as a Registered Behavior technician as well as Karsen’s family helped fund the
project.

Being a psychology major at SUU, the opportunity to study abroad with the psychology
department furthered Karsen’s education in cultural psychology. Karsen was able to witness the
Roman Colosseum at night, climb to the top of both the bell tower and the Duomo in Florence,
marvel at the beauty of statue of David, and even bask in the simplicity of the Amalfi Coast at
sunset. “My EDGE project was much more than just a project to me,” Karsen stated. “It was an
opportunity for me to understand that there is so much more in this world that I can see and do
than I had previously believed. I was in constant awe and appreciation of the world around me,
and I want to live every day of my life feeling that exact way.”

Without the EDGE program, Karsen said that she would have never thought of studying abroad
as a possibility. The EDGE program promotes students to complete a project that will help them
increase their ability to not only engage in learning but also apply it. This study abroad helped
Karsen to transition what she had learned in her previous classes into real-world applicability.
After completing this project, Karsen found that she was influenced by her study abroad to
work hard to achieve tasks that she may have otherwise thought to be impossible. Due to the
opportunity that Karsen had to complete this project, she feels more prepared and excited to
see what her future has in store for her after her time is done this next spring at SUU.

Contact Information:
Phone number: 702-250-7829
Email address: karsencardinal@gmail.com
Mailing address: 216 S 800 W Cedar City, Utah 84720