George Taylor Travel Grant Program: Rebecca Delacruz-Gunderson

 

Imagine traveling to another country to experience robust culture, striking architecture, and relaxation. Such dreams have been made into reality for over fifty faculty members at The Bush School since 1974, thanks to the George Taylor Travel Grant Program. Made possible by the Edward E. Ford Foundation, this rewarding program allows up to ten teachers each year to receive funds toward refreshing and enlightening travel experiences. The sabbatical was named in honor of former Dean of Faculty and English teacher, George Taylor, who understood the importance of “scratching an intellectual itch” through travel, study, and reflection. Bush now awards up to $50,000 per year to fund travel grant opportunities so faculty and staff can bring new experiences, perspectives, and ideas back to students. 

English teacher and College & Student Success Coordinator Rebecca Delacruz-Gunderson was recently awarded the grant. As a result, she had the opportunity to visit Southeast Asia for an entire month this past summer.  

“I couldn’t believe a program like this existed,” Rebecca said. “When you fill out the application, you need to indicate where you want to go, the motivation behind the travel, a breakdown of predicted expenses, and how you would bring back your experience to Bush.” 

Applicants should fill out the form thoroughly, ensuring their travel plans are not only rejuvenating and fun, but also educational. Rebecca’s plans to travel to Southeast Asia were both personal and professional and served as an opportunity for her to connect more with her roots. 

“I’m half Filipino, and my mom is Filipino,” Rebecca said. “I knew it was important to dive into some identity-building and focus heavily on my roots in the Philippines. My mom was born there but immigrated to the States when she was very young, and as a second-generation Filipino, I felt disconnected from my culture. I don’t know the language; I’ve visited only once; and I primarily grew up with my dad’s side of the family, who lives here.” 

Last year’s theme at Bush was honoring “roots,” and how we can bring cultures, lessons, and history we’ve learned from our backgrounds to an educational setting. Faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to learn from their stories and those that connect us to the past, the environment that surrounds us, and through the roots that ground us firmly to Bush. 

“Bush has been really focused on helping kids with their own identity-building, whether that be through affinity groups or SDLC (Student Diversity Leadership Conference),” Rebecca said. “I was just speaking with a couple of awesome seniors, and they’re going to start a Mixed Club for multiracial Upper School students. The more I’ve explored and thought about my own identity, the more excited I am to support students.” 

Teaching the Asian American Voices English elective has been one of Rebecca’s favorite parts of her job. Bush strives to cultivate a community of belonging and inclusivity, ensuring that every student’s voice is uplifted, valued, and heard. As Bush grows more diverse, faculty and staff work cohesively to create a space where all perspectives are not only allowed, but also encouraged. While in Singapore, Rebecca not only spent time with her partner’s family, but also made new connections of her own while traveling. 

“I explored more of the Singaporean literary scene,” Rebecca said. “My partner has a lot of connections there—he’s a poet and a writer, so he knows a lot of people. We had dinner with this writer couple and just talked about publishing, books, and literary events. We went to multiple bookstores, and I bought a bunch of books.” 

Rebecca is excited to bring her newfound literary knowledge to her creative nonfiction class, Essay, this semester. She’s already shared one essay from a book she bought abroad, Others Is Not A Race, by Singaporean writer Melissa De Silva. 

“It was just such a gift to be able to travel and have that space to read in a different place,” Rebecca said. “I feel like literature is one of the best ways to experience other places of the world.”