Curiosity & Connection Fuel Senior Eyleen Menchú Tuy’s Global Education

Eyleen Menchú Tuy ’25 became curious about the world at a young age.

“Thanks to my parents, my brother and I grew up in an environment where we were always invited to learn, to ask questions, to listen and to share,” she says.

Growing up in Guatemala, she always knew there were opportunities out there. She just had to find them.

“My family doesn’t have a lot of finances, but my mom and dad always found a way to expose us to many different things,” she says. “Money was never a limitation.”

From chess to gymnastics, art classes to public speaking, robotics to martial arts, she explored a wide range of interests.

Menchú Tuy’s deep curiosity, determination and cheerful optimism eventually led her to Whitman College, where the now senior is majoring in Politics and Hispanic Studies.

Seeking Out Opportunities

At 10 years old, Menchú Tuy began hearing about becas (scholarships) that help older students access educational programs. So she started applying.

“I received a scholarship to participate in debate when I was 14. I got another one that allowed me to travel to Chile and ended up getting many others,” she says.

As the eldest child, she was always eager to keep learning and reaching.

“I knew that, financially, continuing my education would be a challenge,” she says. “So I went on the computer and searched ‘scholarships to continue studying for Guatemalan people.’ That’s when I found UWC.”

United World College (UWC) is a network of schools that offer an International Baccalaureate diploma to students with a passion for making a difference.

She applied and was accepted to UWC Costa Rica on a full scholarship. So at 16, she packed her bags and set off for a new academic and life adventure.

Stranded Yet Shining

As she said her goodbyes, Menchú Tuy was told to prepare to spend a lot of time away from her family. But it turned out to be a much longer separation than anyone anticipated.

After her first semester away, she spent the December 2019 holidays with her family before returning to campus in January 2020. In March, a global pandemic changed everything.

Alongside 200 other international students, she now had to find her way back home.

“The school shuttled us to the airport. They told us to bring everything and not to forget our masks,” she says.

With her plane ticket in hand, she arrived at the airport early. As she was in line to check in, she heard an announcement on the overhead speaker. Guatemala had closed its borders.

“I couldn’t believe it,” she recalls. “I asked for more information, but no one knew when the border would reopen.” She was stranded in a foreign country.

“It was challenging for me because I could not go home,” Menchú Tuy says.

Her family and friends constantly checked on her through texts and phone calls. The school provided food, housing and resources to aid her and 15 others in their transition to online classes. And the staff got creative, organizing activities they could safely do while at a distance.

She made the best of the situation, graduated on time and earned herself a scholarship to continue her studies in the United States.

“My community kept me going—the one I built in Costa Rica and the one I had back home in Guatemala. That’s when I realized community is so important in every aspect of life.”

Exploring Passions, Building Community

As Menchú Tuy applied to colleges, she had two things in mind.

“I was curious about liberal arts colleges. I thought it was kind of crazy that, if I wanted to study politics, I could also take a guitar class. I just couldn’t imagine it,” she says. “I also thought it would be nice to go to a school where I could create community.”

Her friend suggested looking at the Colleges That Change Lives website. Intrigued, she took a peek.

“Whitman was on it. I read the description and thought it sounded very interesting and very welcoming, so I scheduled an interview,” she says. “I was surprised by how this person—who I never met before—wanted to get to know me as a person and was interested in my experiences and what I wanted to do in life.”

Menchú Tuy was convinced she needed to go to Whitman—and in the fall of 2021, she joined the Class of 2025 in Walla Walla.

On campus, she immediately got involved.

“There is always something happening,” she says. “I want to go to everything and learn as much as I can. Everything is so interesting. It is challenging to decide what I don’t go to.”

Among the many student organizations, she chose to focus on opportunities that align with her faith and identity. She’s held leadership positions in the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, the Unidos Latinx affinity group and the student-run Whitman Events Board. She has also been on various campus planning committees and believes everyone plays an important role in society.

“We are not always going to be here. We are only here for a very specific amount of time, so we should think about how our work will impact future generations,” she says. “All of the efforts my Mayan ancestors made allowed me to be where I am today.”

From Guatemala to Graduation

Since the pandemic, Menchú Tuy has been home for short periods of time. In May, she will become the first in her family to earn a college degree.

“I get emotional and excited thinking of graduation day. It will be a collective achievement of the four of us,” she says.

“My mom, my dad and my brother … I always carry them with me. Hopefully, on graduation day, we can reunite in this place that has taught me so much.”

Menchú Tuy also credits all the amazing people she’s met at Whitman for getting her this far and encourages others to build their own network.

“It is really nice to be part of a community. It might be the community within your major or residence hall or common interest. These communities are a special place to learn. Don’t ever let your community go.”