For Tdohasan Chastang Sunray ’27, the summer wasn't about rest — it was about giving back. The University of Puget Sound English major spent his summer in the realm of creative writing, embarking on a mission to inspire the next generation of storytellers throughout the state of Oklahoma. Funded by a Matelich Summer Challenge Grant, the project was his way of serving a part of his community often overlooked. 

The University of Puget Sound is one of the nation’s best institutions for undergraduates, according to The Princeton Review. The education services company featured Puget Sound in the 2026 edition of its annual college guide, The Best 391 Colleges.

As a Fulbright scholar at Western Sydney University, Kyra Lee ’24 spends her days developing brain-inspired technologies that could one day reshape healthcare and robotics. 

At the university’s International Centre for Neuromorphic Systems, Lee is part of a research team designing neuromorphic systems — computing technologies modeled after the human brain. These bio-inspired tools could improve machine learning, enhance robotic responsiveness, and expand how artificial intelligence supports patient care.