Only at Bowling Green: Ohio's only Voyager Scholarship recipient returns to BGSU with new knowledge and world experiences

Selected as an Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship recipient, Ryan Lothamer was given the opportunity to explore the world

By Branden Ferguson

When Ryan Lothamer traveled to Athens, Greece, as a recipient of the prestigious Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship, he didn't expect to find so many similarities between the students there and those he teaches in Ohio.

After an eye-opening journey that took him to 15 countries and spanned more than 60,000 miles, the Bowling Green State University senior is back on campus, ready to apply his new knowledge to his future career as a teacher.

"I'm a firm believer that in order to be a great teacher, you first need to be a great learner," said Lothamer. "One of my biggest motivations for this trip was to soak up as much knowledge and perspective as I could, so I would then be able to impart it onto my students and become the best teacher I can."

Lothamer is the third consecutive BGSU student selected for the Voyager Scholarship, created by former President Barack Obama, former First Lady Michelle Obama and Brian Chesky, co-founder and CEO of Airbnb, to shape leaders in public service.

In Athens, Greece, Lothamer began his voyage by working with The Home Project, an organization dedicated to caring for hundreds of unaccompanied children whose lives have been affected by war and persecution.

"I worked with children from all over the world, helping with day-to-day activities, playing games and sports with them and learning about their backgrounds," said Lothamer.

The experience also allowed Lothamer to apply his teaching knowledge firsthand.

"It was rewarding to be able to take the things I've been taught in the classroom and transfer those skills to an entirely new context," said Lothamer. "Despite the language barrier, it was unique to see the way these students learned, problem-solved and played. I was surprised to see so many similarities between these students and the ones I work with in Ohio."

In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Lothamer interned with the award-winning investigative journalism team The Fourth, where he learned about local culture by conducting interviews and telling stories.

"I learned so much about the culture in Malaysia and the surrounding countries," said Lothamer. "The people and culture of Kuala Lumpur were nothing short of amazing. As a science education major, it was also an amazing opportunity to explore the dense forests, parks and nature in the area."

His pursuit of becoming the best educator possible didn't stop with his international travels. Upon returning to campus, Lothamer participated in the BGSU McNair program.

"I was provided amazing resources to help me conduct research, present my findings and received assistance on how to leverage my research to get into graduate school," said Lothamer. "The more I learned about research, the more I found it to be a useful tool to create effective instruction as an educator."

As an "underachieving" high school student, Lothamer has made the most of his time at BGSU, hosting his own radio show with Falcon Radio and taking part in the Schmidthorst College of Business Hatch program. With early success came the confidence to apply for the Voyager Scholarship and travel the world.

Lothamer's journey as a Voyager not only broadened his horizons but also solidified his belief that the lessons learned outside the classroom are just as important as the ones taught within it. Now, he's ready to bring that wisdom back to the students of Ohio.