Student Name: Sam Anderson
Major: IDEAS program
Hometown: Mount Laurel, New Jersey
Objects:
- Necklace with grandmother's ashes
- Trash/junk journal
Meaning behind the objects: Anderson’s grandmother, who worked as a travel agent before Anderson was born, introduced Anderson to travel, taking her to many destinations around the world. When her grandmother passed away, Anderson had a necklace made with her ashes so her grandmother still accompanies her on her travels. Anderson’sHer travel/junk journal has also helped her remember the trips she took with her grandmother, while documenting random adventures from her new travels.
At 12, Sam Anderson ’26 traveled to London and Paris. Two years later, she visited Greece and Venice. At 16, it was back to Italy, where she’s been numerous times.
Those are the perks of having a grandmother who was a travel agent. And her grandmother took Anderson, an IDEAS program graduate who is returning to Lehigh next year for her master’s in environmental policy, to all those places and more. So it made sense that after Anderson’s grandmother passed away during herAnderson’s second year at Lehigh, Anderson kept her close as she racked up frequent- flier miles.
Even without her travel partner, Lehigh allowed her the opportunity to continue to travel. And one of Anderson’s most prized possessions during her time at Lehigh—a necklace that holds her grandmother’s ashes—has kept her close wherever she is.
“She's why I've studied abroad so much,” Anderson said,
In her first semester at Lehigh, Anderson participated in Lehigh Launch’s American West program, an experiential, integrative learning experience that took her to Wyoming and New Mexico. Last spring, Anderson took classes abroad, living in Montpellier, France. During that experience she took 10 weekend trips around the continent, including Portugal, Spain, Scotland, Ireland, London, Italy and destinations within France. That was all before visiting Uganda last summer.
Another item near and dear to Anderson that has been born out of her travels is her travel/junk journal. She began with printed photos of her and her grandmother and purchased stickers, but it has evolved and now includes odds and ends from her travels, including Lehigh Launch. Items range from a travel brochure to her residential train pass to Disneyland Paris.
There’s even a Five Guys receipt from Madrid.
“That was funny. So, I saved that receipt.”
The Class of 2026 reflects on the keepsakes, memories and milestones that shaped their Lehigh experience. Through personal stories and meaningful objects, these Future Makers share moments of growth, discovery and connection. Read the stories behind the keepsakes, or view the expanded photo essay.
