Forty-eight current University of Notre Dame students and alumni have been recognized by the Fulbright U.S. Student Program for grants taking place in 2016-17, with 30 finalists, eight alternates and 10 semifinalists named.
The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program, offering students grants to conduct research, study and teach abroad. Top-producing institutions are highlighted annually in The Chronicle of Higher Education. This year’s number is expected to raise Notre Dame’s national ranking to one of the top 10 universities in the country for 2016-2017.
The number of Notre Dame students and alumni recognized is nearly double the previous University record, and the number of winners is 70 percent higher than the previous Notre Dame record of 17, set last year. According to Thomas Burish, Charles and Jill Fischer Provost, “This is wonderful news. Fulbright is one of the oldest, most respected and most effective programs in the world for international student engagement. On behalf of all the faculty, I offer heartfelt congratulations to our applicants whether or not they received an award. We know that going through the process required considerable time and effort, and that it can lead to a much greater understanding of global issues. To those who received the award and will be traveling to places all around the world, we send our best wishes for much success and fulfillment in their work.”
The 30 recipients are:
- Lauren Antosz, Spanish undergraduate student — study and research grant to Chile.
- Elizabeth Baker, history postgraduate student — study and research grant to India.
- Whitney Bellant, psychology and German undergraduate student — English Teaching Assistantship to Germany.
- Catherine Brix, literature postgraduate student — study and research grant to Chile.
- Andrea Castonguay, history postgraduate student — study and research grant to Morocco.
- Genevieve Crum, ESTEEM program — study and research grant to Italy.
- Prinz Jeremy Llanes Dela Cruz, French and philosophy undergraduate student — English Teaching Assistantship to Andorra.
- Rose Doerfler, Chinese and chemical engineering undergraduate student — study and research grant to Taiwan.
- Raymond Drause, history postgraduate student — study and research grant to Russia.
- Charlie Ducey, English and German undergraduate student — study and research grant to Germany.
- Aletha Duchene, ACE postgraduate student — English Teaching Assistantship to Brazil.
- Garrett Fontenot, history postgraduate student — study and research grant to Canada.
- Bridget Galassini, international economics undergraduate student — English Teaching Assistantship to Spain.
- Adam Henderson, political science undergraduate student — English Teaching Assistantship to Malaysia.
- McKenzie Hightower, English and film, television and theater undergraduate student — English Teaching Assistantship to Poland.
- Zachary S. Horne, finance undergraduate student — English Teaching Assistantship to South Korea.
- Ray’Von Jones, sociology and Spanish undergraduate student — English Teaching Assistantship to Mexico.
- Savannah Kounelis, neuroscience undergraduate student — study and research grant to Belgium.
- Kirsten Kozlovsky, mechanical engineering postgraduate student — study and research grant to New Zealand.
- Angela Lederach, anthropology and peace studies postgraduate student — study and research grant to Colombia.
- Joseph Massad, political science and Arabic undergraduate student — English Teaching Assistantship to Bahrain.
- Emily Migliore, political science undergraduate student — English Teaching Assistantship to Mexico.
- Sean Sapp, history postgraduate student — study and research grant to Belgium.
- Andrew Scruggs, international economics undergraduate student — study and research grant to Jamaica.
- Brandon Sepulvado, sociology postgraduate student — study and research grant to France.
- Christopher Shuck, chemical engineering postgraduate student — study and research grant to Russia.
- Monika Spalinski, Spanish and German undergraduate student — English Teaching Assistantship to Germany.
- Luke Wajrowski, philosophy and psychology undergraduate student — English Teaching Assistantship to Argentina.
- Kyle Witzigman, political science, Glynn Family Honors Scholar and Hesburgh-Yusko undergraduate student — English Teaching Assistantship to Vietnam.
- Danae Yankoski, history postgraduate student — study and research grant to Canada.
Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 360,000 participants — chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential — with the opportunity to exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. More than 1,900 U.S. students, artists and young professionals in more than 100 different fields of study are offered Fulbright Program grants to study, teach English and conduct research annually in more than 140 countries throughout the world.
The Fulbright competition at Notre Dame is open to all current students and alumni, and is administered at the graduate level by the Graduate School Office of Grants and Fellowships; the undergraduate level is administered by the Flatley Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement (CUSE). Students and alumni create an application for the fellowship program in conjunction with their faculty adviser and under the direction of either the Graduate School or CUSE. The rise in awards won by Notre Dame applicants this year corresponds to the increasing efforts by the Graduate School and CUSE to provide both one-on-one consultations and group support for students throughout the application process, including conceptualization of projects, writing and revising proposals, and interview preparation and practice.
Contact: Jeffrey Thibert, associate director, Flatley Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement, jthibert@nd.edu