He hitchhiked the Pan American Highway in Peru. Spent the night in sleeping bags outside Machu Picchu. He learned to drive on the right side of the road with a stick shift in New Zealand, and explored China alone via train in the 90s. Alumni Carl Lindstrom graduated from UW–Madison with a master’s degree in Geography in 1972, and then he set out to see the world.
Growing up with a father in the military, Lindstrom moved around frequently in his childhood, developing a fondness for travel. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in Geography from Western Washington University, Lindstrom went on to join the Peace Corps in Bolivia before attending UW–Madison for his master’s degree.
During his time in Madison, he met his wife and travel partner Sandra, and they have been happily married for 53 years. He values travel, new experiences, and charity. His father instilled these values in him from a young age, inspiring him to spend his life “doing things that were useful to other people.” In his adult life, Lindstrom has been a long time Rotarian; he’s been to India 3 times to give polio vaccinations and brought wheelchairs to India, Guatemala, and Panama.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Lindstrom is grateful for his unique experiences of travel that span many different landscapes and cultures. His diverse global experiences have greatly changed his worldview and allowed him to learn in away that a classroom could never fully replicate.
He encourages students to get to know people from other countries and communities, to “talk with them, try to understand them, have a beer with them.” He believes that it is through conversation and connection that students expand their horizons and get the opportunity to form new and valuable experiences.
Supporting Student Travel
That’s why Lindstrom decided to generously create an endowment that helps Geography students who want to travel. This spring, the Lindstrom Travel Award will be given in support of its first two students. Juniors and seniors majoring in Geography or Cartography/GIS will be eligible for these two awards of $1,000 each. Students will receive information on how to apply for the awards this coming March, and the awardees will be honored at the annual Geography Graduation Celebration in early May.
Through this scholarship, Lindstrom gives Geography students more opportunities to get out and see the world. He hopes that future students will love traveling and having new experiences as much as he did. He encourages students to make the decision to travel whenever they are able, believing that there are “so many things to see in this world. And if you don’t start seeing them, you’re not going to get to them.”
For Lindstrom, connections are what make travel so transformative. They remind him that “you learn so much when you open yourself up to listening to other people.”
Still Exploring
Today, Lindstrom continues to travel, having explored all 7 continents and over 100 countries. Celebrating his 80th birthday this year with a trip to Prague, Lindstrom makes it a priority to continue to experience new places with every coming year. In his own words, “There’s no guarantee. Life isn’t a guarantee. You just have to take a chance.”
