Shay Chestnut

Shay Chestnut ​​​​​​​(schestn5@charlotte.edu) is a first-generation senior double majoring in Finance and Accounting at UNC Charlotte. In the summer of 2026, with no prior travel experience, she studied abroad in Thailand with the focus of community and sustainable practices in global tourism. While in Thailand, Shay was able to see firsthand what a sustainable community meant while staying on a sustainable farm in Chaing Mai, conversing with different organizations in the city of Bangkok, and studying willdlife on the beaches of Phuket. The most enjoyable aspect was being immersed in the local culture, shopping in local markets, and gaining perspective through the lives of the locals and busines owners she met. Shay encourages students to venture into an unfamiliar world to learn something new about yourself and others. Shay also encourages students to apply to Study Abroad with the help of the scholarship opportunities and application support provided from UNC Charlotte.