From UW To The World: Sam Tran's Big Adventure
June 29, 2026 | Cross Country, Track & Field
By MARK MOSCHETTI
For gohuskies.com
SEATTLE – During her career as a college runner, Sam Tran was always going the distance. Didn't matter whether it was on a winding cross country trail or around the oval of a track.
Her college running career is now finished. But Tran will still be going the distance …
… and taking it to a whole different level.
Having just completed her master's in public health at Washington, Tran is drawing up an itinerary that will take her on an eight-month trek through Southeast Asia as the recipient of a prestigious Bonderman Fellowship.
"Ever since my senior year of high school (in Grand Rapids, Michigan), I've always dreamed of applying for this," said Tran, who completed her undergraduate degree in movement science while running cross country and track at Michigan, then transferred to Washington to pursue her master's while also running cross country in 2024 and 2025.
"During Covid (in 2020 and 2021), Michigan stopped the Bonderman Fellowship and never ended up bringing it back," she continued. "One day here at UW, I got an e-mail and learned they were providing this same opportunity here."
The late David Bonderman, a UW alumnus, leader of the group that brought the Kraken and the National Hockey League to Seattle and known for his numerous accomplishments in sports, business and philanthropy before passing away in December 2024, has sent more than 350 UW students on worldwide journeys since 1995.
In April, Tran became the latest member of that globetrotting group. She is the first Husky athletics recipient since former baseball player Channing Nesbitt in 2020.
A unique characteristic of the program is that recipients are just supposed to travel. No work. No school.
Just travel, personal growth and seeing the world in different ways. And being, in their own way, an ambassador of sorts while visiting two (or three) world regions and six to nine countries of their choosing. Recipients must travel independently, not as part of a group.
"Every time I tell people what I'm about to embark on, they go, 'Oh, what are you going to be studying?' or 'Are you going to be dong research or working with a non-profit or volunteering?' Tran said. "I tell them that it's just for us to seek transformation and to grow as a person and experience different cultures that we haven't experienced before, and to connect with locals and gain global experience."
HER OWN SPECIAL SECRET
When she was looking for a school to study for her master's and for a top-caliber running program, Tran quickly determined that Washington was exactly right for both.
"When I came out here for grad school and was looking at not only schools, but also (cross country / track) teams that I wanted to be a part of, Washington checked so many of my boxes," she said. "UW's School of Public Health is one of the best in the country. The team here is pretty incredible, and having raced for a female coach (Maurica Powell) has been pretty awesome."
But there were other things that didn't necessarily factor into a pursuing a degree or running a race.
"Coming from Michigan, I've dealt with a lot of cold winter, and Seattle's winters are much more pleasant," Tran said. "And every time the sun is out, being able to catch a glimpse of the mountains, I'm in awe, whether it's the Olympics or the Cascades or Mount Rainier. We don't have that in Michigan."
Tran started her Bonderman application process in January, submitting an essay, a proposed itinerary, and going through an interview with UW faculty, staff and former Bonderman Fellows. One day in late April while sitting and having lunch with some of her teammates, an e-mail popped into her inbox.
Matter of fact, that Facetime conversation was the first her mom, Loann, had heard about any of this. By design, Sam hadn't told her parents that she had even applied, "because I didn't want to jinx myself," she said, laughing again.
"I kept this little secret, hoping I would win the fellowship," she said. "When I called my mom, she was like, 'Are you OK?' and she had this concerned look on her face. But I eventually got the words out."
LOGGING THE MILES (OR THE METERS)
Like so many people, Tran has always had a travel bug inside. Her years of racing for both Michigan and Washington provided some opportunity to do that.
"Running has taken me to a lot of places in the U.S. I've been able to go to cool and interesting places for travel meets and explore cities while running at those meets," she said.
Distance running has been Tran's strong suit.
"In high school, I was more middle distance. Then once I started finding some success in cross country, my coaches just ended up funneling me more into distance workouts and discovered that I was pretty good at it," she said.
During last fall's cross country season, Tran ran for the Huskies at the Big Ten Championships, the NCAA West Regionals, and the NCAA nationals. At Michigan, she ran at NCAA cross country in 2020 (which took place in March 2021 because of the pandemic shutdown in fall 2020), 2021, and 2022.
Tran also made the NCAA East Regionals in outdoor track in the 1500 in 2022 and 2023, and the 5000 in 2023. She was part of Michigan's Big Ten indoor-winning distance medley relay team in 2022.
She figures running could come in quite handy during her upcoming travels.
"It will be special to explore these countries on foot, whether running or walking, or any other mode of transportation," she said. "I'm looking forward to being able to take my running to these countries. It's a pretty unique way to explore a city and can be pretty fun because sometimes, you can see things that the normal tourist might not see."
HERITAGE IS PART OF HER JOURNEY
Tran is still in the very early stages of putting all this together. As of now, she is planning to depart sometime next summer on a route that will take her to Morocco, then to Turkiye, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam. "And I'm kind of thinking maybe throwing Taiwan in there, as well," she said, adding that all of it "might be subject to change."
Tran was born and raised as Vietnamese American by parents who emigrated from their homeland during the Vietnam War.
"I've always wanted to go back to Vietnam and be able to experience the culture that I was raised in, and see the food and see the land that my parents speak about," Tran said. "My sister did a study-abroad trip to Japan. She has talked about how that was such a formative experience for her and how the culture in Japan was so incredible and unlike anything she has experienced."
Tran said she is especially intrigued by Turkiye, in particular Cappadocia, which is famous for its hot air balloons.
"They rise into the sky at sunrise and it's always something I wanted to see with my own eyes," she said, "and take in on a nice morning and be able to look at the horizon with beautiful landscapes and see these hot air balloons rise over the city."
Would she consider going for a ride in one?
"Maybe I might, but I do have a fear of heights," she said. "So maybe I'll just admire them from the ground."
Airborne or ground-bound, Tran is basking in the thought that all this is actually happening for her.
"Between cross country, indoor and outdoor track, it's pretty much a year-round season, and I haven't been able to travel outside the U.S.," she said. "I'm excited to experience cultures, meet different people, and eat all different types of food.
"It's definitely daunting just because I have limited experience," Tran added, "But it's something they selected me for and they have the trust in me that I'm capable of achieving this. So I'm excited to embark on this journey."
A journey that will give Sam Tran the chance of a lifetime …
… to keep going the distance.
BONDERMAN FELLOWSHIP HOME PAGE
https://bonderman.uw.edu/
For gohuskies.com
SEATTLE – During her career as a college runner, Sam Tran was always going the distance. Didn't matter whether it was on a winding cross country trail or around the oval of a track.
Her college running career is now finished. But Tran will still be going the distance …
… and taking it to a whole different level.
Having just completed her master's in public health at Washington, Tran is drawing up an itinerary that will take her on an eight-month trek through Southeast Asia as the recipient of a prestigious Bonderman Fellowship.
"Ever since my senior year of high school (in Grand Rapids, Michigan), I've always dreamed of applying for this," said Tran, who completed her undergraduate degree in movement science while running cross country and track at Michigan, then transferred to Washington to pursue her master's while also running cross country in 2024 and 2025.
"During Covid (in 2020 and 2021), Michigan stopped the Bonderman Fellowship and never ended up bringing it back," she continued. "One day here at UW, I got an e-mail and learned they were providing this same opportunity here."
The late David Bonderman, a UW alumnus, leader of the group that brought the Kraken and the National Hockey League to Seattle and known for his numerous accomplishments in sports, business and philanthropy before passing away in December 2024, has sent more than 350 UW students on worldwide journeys since 1995.
In April, Tran became the latest member of that globetrotting group. She is the first Husky athletics recipient since former baseball player Channing Nesbitt in 2020.
A unique characteristic of the program is that recipients are just supposed to travel. No work. No school.
Just travel, personal growth and seeing the world in different ways. And being, in their own way, an ambassador of sorts while visiting two (or three) world regions and six to nine countries of their choosing. Recipients must travel independently, not as part of a group.
"Every time I tell people what I'm about to embark on, they go, 'Oh, what are you going to be studying?' or 'Are you going to be dong research or working with a non-profit or volunteering?' Tran said. "I tell them that it's just for us to seek transformation and to grow as a person and experience different cultures that we haven't experienced before, and to connect with locals and gain global experience."
HER OWN SPECIAL SECRET
When she was looking for a school to study for her master's and for a top-caliber running program, Tran quickly determined that Washington was exactly right for both.
"When I came out here for grad school and was looking at not only schools, but also (cross country / track) teams that I wanted to be a part of, Washington checked so many of my boxes," she said. "UW's School of Public Health is one of the best in the country. The team here is pretty incredible, and having raced for a female coach (Maurica Powell) has been pretty awesome."
But there were other things that didn't necessarily factor into a pursuing a degree or running a race.
"Coming from Michigan, I've dealt with a lot of cold winter, and Seattle's winters are much more pleasant," Tran said. "And every time the sun is out, being able to catch a glimpse of the mountains, I'm in awe, whether it's the Olympics or the Cascades or Mount Rainier. We don't have that in Michigan."
Tran started her Bonderman application process in January, submitting an essay, a proposed itinerary, and going through an interview with UW faculty, staff and former Bonderman Fellows. One day in late April while sitting and having lunch with some of her teammates, an e-mail popped into her inbox.
"I read the first line, and it said, 'Congratulations, you've been selected as a Bonderman Fellow.' I literally jumped out of my chair," she said with a laugh. "I immediately called my mom, and my heart was racing and pounding out of my chest. I couldn't even get the words out to explain to her what I just won."
Matter of fact, that Facetime conversation was the first her mom, Loann, had heard about any of this. By design, Sam hadn't told her parents that she had even applied, "because I didn't want to jinx myself," she said, laughing again.
"I kept this little secret, hoping I would win the fellowship," she said. "When I called my mom, she was like, 'Are you OK?' and she had this concerned look on her face. But I eventually got the words out."
LOGGING THE MILES (OR THE METERS)
Like so many people, Tran has always had a travel bug inside. Her years of racing for both Michigan and Washington provided some opportunity to do that.
"Running has taken me to a lot of places in the U.S. I've been able to go to cool and interesting places for travel meets and explore cities while running at those meets," she said.
Distance running has been Tran's strong suit.
"In high school, I was more middle distance. Then once I started finding some success in cross country, my coaches just ended up funneling me more into distance workouts and discovered that I was pretty good at it," she said.
During last fall's cross country season, Tran ran for the Huskies at the Big Ten Championships, the NCAA West Regionals, and the NCAA nationals. At Michigan, she ran at NCAA cross country in 2020 (which took place in March 2021 because of the pandemic shutdown in fall 2020), 2021, and 2022.
Tran also made the NCAA East Regionals in outdoor track in the 1500 in 2022 and 2023, and the 5000 in 2023. She was part of Michigan's Big Ten indoor-winning distance medley relay team in 2022.
"I read the first line, and it said, 'Congratulations, you've been selected as a Bonderman Fellow.' I literally jumped out of my chair. I immediately called my mom, and my heart was racing and pounding out of my chest. I couldn't even get the words out to explain to her what I just won."
She figures running could come in quite handy during her upcoming travels.
"It will be special to explore these countries on foot, whether running or walking, or any other mode of transportation," she said. "I'm looking forward to being able to take my running to these countries. It's a pretty unique way to explore a city and can be pretty fun because sometimes, you can see things that the normal tourist might not see."
HERITAGE IS PART OF HER JOURNEY
Tran is still in the very early stages of putting all this together. As of now, she is planning to depart sometime next summer on a route that will take her to Morocco, then to Turkiye, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam. "And I'm kind of thinking maybe throwing Taiwan in there, as well," she said, adding that all of it "might be subject to change."
Tran was born and raised as Vietnamese American by parents who emigrated from their homeland during the Vietnam War.
"I've always wanted to go back to Vietnam and be able to experience the culture that I was raised in, and see the food and see the land that my parents speak about," Tran said. "My sister did a study-abroad trip to Japan. She has talked about how that was such a formative experience for her and how the culture in Japan was so incredible and unlike anything she has experienced."
Tran said she is especially intrigued by Turkiye, in particular Cappadocia, which is famous for its hot air balloons.
"They rise into the sky at sunrise and it's always something I wanted to see with my own eyes," she said, "and take in on a nice morning and be able to look at the horizon with beautiful landscapes and see these hot air balloons rise over the city."
Would she consider going for a ride in one?
"Maybe I might, but I do have a fear of heights," she said. "So maybe I'll just admire them from the ground."
Airborne or ground-bound, Tran is basking in the thought that all this is actually happening for her.
"Between cross country, indoor and outdoor track, it's pretty much a year-round season, and I haven't been able to travel outside the U.S.," she said. "I'm excited to experience cultures, meet different people, and eat all different types of food.
"It's definitely daunting just because I have limited experience," Tran added, "But it's something they selected me for and they have the trust in me that I'm capable of achieving this. So I'm excited to embark on this journey."
A journey that will give Sam Tran the chance of a lifetime …
… to keep going the distance.
BONDERMAN FELLOWSHIP HOME PAGE
https://bonderman.uw.edu/
Players Mentioned
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