The Haller Global Honors Fellowship program has finally come to an end, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. Our group worked with Carrigart to explore ways of attracting more foot traffic and tourists to the small town. Although they have an active tourism industry during the summer, they face challenges during the rest of the year when visitor numbers drop.

I was part of the marketing team, and it was fascinating to see how their approach to promotion differs from what we are used to. While we often focus on digital media and online advertising, they rely much more on local sources like newspapers and word of mouth. It gave me a new appreciation for the personal connections and trust that small towns build over time.

Throughout the trip we met many business owners who were eager to share their stories. One of the biggest lessons I took away was the importance of community and cooperation. In a small town like Carrigart, every business plays a part in helping the others grow. That same spirit was visible within our own group. We collaborated, shared ideas, and cooperated with each other throughout the trip in order to build our final presentation.

Presentation day was a great way to wrap up the trip. It felt good to finally share our ideas and see the work from the other teams. Knowing that this was the first year of a ten year project working with Carrigart it felt satisfying to establish the base that future students will work on.