ISSS is excited to announce that sophomore Philana Hin, a neuroscience major on the pre-health track, is the winner of the Spring 2024 ISSS Design Contest. Her innovative and culturally inspired design encapsulates the spirit of our office. Thanks to Philana’s creativity, we now have a distinctive branded sticker that was introduced to new international students during Fall 2024 Welcome Week.
Here’s what Philana said about the creation process: 
“Participating in this sticker design contest felt like a meaningful way to connect with students beyond words alone. Although I’m not an international student, I wanted to capture the sense of exploration and welcome of adapting to a new cultural landscape. I chose to use a stamp as one of the main focal points of the design to frame the balance between leaving one home and arriving at another. I hope the design is a small gift for international students, representing their bond with UMD regardless of where their future takes them!”