Dear Rotarians of District 6250,
When I first arrived in Wisconsin as a wide-eyed teenager from Kathmandu, Nepal, I could never have imagined the journey that awaited me. Thanks to each and every one of you — the Rotarians who opened your homes, your clubs, and your hearts to me during my Youth Exchange year in 2019–20 — I have had the privilege of building a life here that continues to exceed my wildest dreams.
This past weekend, I had the profound honor of returning to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, the institution that became my second home, to serve as emcee for their 35th Annual Leadership Awards ceremony.
Standing at that podium, I was humbled to share the stage with this year's Dean Linden Pioneer Achievement Award recipient and quietly reflect on how far my own journey has brought me since those first uncertain days as an exchange student.
UW-Platteville gave me so much. I graduated in May 2025 with a major in mathematics and data science and a minor in computer science. Along the way, I served as President of the Pioneer AI Club, Vice President of the International Club, a math tutor, and eventually Lead Student Assistant in the Women in STEM program. I conducted research in AI-driven lameness detection in cows and in sentiment analysis, interned at Trane Technologies and Automated Solutions of America, and now work full-time as a Product Support Engineer at Trane Technologies in Columbia, South Carolina; supporting advanced building automation and climate solutions.
But none of this — not a single step of it — would have been possible without the foundation you helped build beneath my feet. Rotary gave me more than an exchange year. You gave me courage. You showed me that the world was larger and more welcoming than I knew, and that community, service, and connection transcend every border. The kindness I experienced in District 6250 taught me what it truly means to give without expectation — a lesson I carry with me every single day, in every room I walk into.
Standing at that podium to emcee the Leadership Awards, I felt your presence with me. You are woven into every achievement I have celebrated and every challenge I have faced with confidence. I am proud to be a product of this district, and I am committed to honoring your investment in me by continuing to serve, lead, and give back.
From the bottom of my heart — dhanyabad, and thank you.
Isha Paudel District 6250 2019-20 Rotary Youth Exchange Student, Fort Atkinson. UW-Platteville, Class of 2025