Lauri Hughes traveled to countries like Spain, Japan, and Sri Lanka during her Semester at Sea journey in Spring 1982. Favorite site? All magnificent, she says. Favorite experience? One, she says, stands out as a "really sweet moment."
"In Sri Lanka, we met a guide who took us around for a few days and to meet his family. We were welcomed with a big dinner," Lauri says. "They made ice cream, which was really rare, since they had no refrigeration. It was as if it was a wedding—a really big event for the family."
Clearly, that moment of connection—and the entire experience—meant the world. It, in part, led Lauri to become a certified professional midwife and co-founder of Community Roots Midwife Collective in Longmont, Colorado. Lauri has also worked in birth clinics in Uganda and Indonesia, among other global volunteer pursuits.
Lauri (right) and a fellow voyager visiting the pyramids in Cairo (Spring 1982).
A shirt purchased at the ship store during the voyage. The SS Universe visited some amazing ports in Spring 1982, many of which are still on our voyage itineraries 40 years later. (It's interesting to note that several cities have changed names over the years.)
While Lauri generously supports Semester at Sea with an annual gift, she also made an unrestricted gift in her estate plan. "I trust in the organization to use the gift where it's most needed," she says. Most important, her gift will provide an opportunity for future students to see and understand the world.
Looking Forward
Nothing is more impactful and easy to do than make a future gift to support Semester at Sea. Unrestricted gifts, like Lauri's, allow us to plan and sustain programming where it is most needed, especially as we look ahead to our next adventures. Contact Planned Giving Team at or giving@isevoyages.org to learn how your gift can make a difference.