Digging into Discovery:
How Transy turned connection into opportunity
It’s not the kind of opportunity you’d expect for someone outside the history department — but that’s exactly what makes his story so quintessentially Transy.
“I’m not a history major,” Winn said with a smile. “I just really enjoyed my Greek classes and kept taking them.” One class led to another, which led to a faculty connection, which led halfway around the world — with a shovel in hand.
From Greek Class to the Aegean Coast
Winn’s journey began with a simple requirement: a foreign language credit. He enrolled in Ancient Greek with professor Frank Russell, and what began as a simple requirement quickly turned into an academic passion, thanks to Transy’s close-knit faculty.
“Through Dr. Russell, I learned about the archaeological project in Turkey,” Winn said. “And thanks to Transy’s Grant Allocation committee, I received funding to make it possible.”
That kind of support, both personal and institutional, is what Winn believes sets Transylvania apart. “Networking is kind of built into the liberal arts experience,” he said. “You find yourself with a lot of opportunities from places you’d never expect.”
Lessons Beyond the Classroom
Once on site in Turkey, Winn joined a team excavating areas untouched for nearly a millennium. “We worked long days in the sun moving rocks and dirt,” he said. “But every time we uncovered something, it felt like touching history.” His favorite discovery? “My favorite thing I found was a marble pillar that I uncovered,” he said. “It was hard work, but it is definitely fulfilling and I love to meet new people.”
Beyond the physical labor, the experience gave him something even more valuable: cultural awareness and a deeper appreciation for global perspectives. “Personally, on this trip, I grew as a person,” Winn said. “I tried to immerse myself in the culture at hand. I tried to just learn the language and get to know people better.”
He laughs as he remembers one especially memorable moment. “One of the Turkish workers offered me a ride on the back of his motorcycle,” Winn said. “Traffic in Turkey is a bit congested and everyone does their own little thing, and turn signals are a suggestion. So it was maybe somewhat dangerous, but it was a lot of fun.” Moments like that—equal parts adventure and connection — became their own kind of discovery.
Even though archaeology isn’t part of my major, it’s still a science in its own way, it helped me understand the human element behind biology, evolution and culture.
Ethan Winn ’26
Real World Experience
Though the experience was far from his academic focus, Winn sees its lasting impact.
For Winn, this wasn’t just a trip abroad — it was a leap into adulthood. “It makes you grow up when you’re going across the world by yourself,” he said. “There’s no parents or authorities that really guide you. You have to kind of rely on yourself a little bit.”
He learned how to navigate airports, handle travel logistics and take care of himself far from home. “I was walking through airports and figuring out where my connecting flights were and making sure that I was on time,” he remembers. “It really, I guess, forces you to grow up a little bit and mature in the way of like it’s a foreign world, it’s a new world, but it’s a lot of fun.”
Winn plans to pursue holistic medicine or biopsychology — and credits his summer in Turkey with giving him a broader, more global lens for problem-solving.
Transy gives you space to think about issues from every angle. He said, “I think [the trip] really equips me well to come back to the United States to understand people who are coming from a different perspective.”
Connecting Past, Present and Future
Winn’s experience reflects Transy’s core commitment to interdisciplinary education. Whether through a class, a conversation or a chance encounter, students are constantly encouraged to explore beyond the boundaries of their majors. “Worlds collide very easily at Transy,” he said. “The faculty want you to grow. They want you to think differently and push past the status quo.”
From campus ministry and choir to neuroscience labs and Mediterranean ruins, Winn’s Transy experience has been anything but linear — and that’s exactly the point. Looking back, Winn said what brought him to Transy was a desire for connection — and what he’s found has far exceeded his expectations.
“I chose Transy because I wanted personal relationships with my professors,” he said. “And I’ve had opportunities here that I never would’ve had at a larger school.”
For alumni, his story is a reminder of the enduring values at the heart of a Transy education: curiosity, mentorship, exploration and the belief that education extends far beyond the classroom.
