Fulbright finalists at the 2015 reception
Eighteen University of Notre Dame students have been named Fulbright grant finalists in the 2015-2016 program, the most grantees the University has ever had in the program. Sixteen finalists have accepted the award.
The Fulbright program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program. It awards a one-year postgraduate fellowship for research, study or teaching English abroad. During their fellowship, scholars will work, live and learn in their host country.
“The University’s unprecedented Fulbright success this year is indicative of the commitment to internationalization exemplified by Notre Dame International and the units that will make up the Keough School of Global Affairs, among others,” said Jeffrey Thibert, assistant director of national fellowships in Notre Dame’s Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement (CUSE). “Our students are especially competitive for the Fulbright and other national fellowships because they are encouraged to pursue international coursework and research and develop a truly global perspective. These fellowships enable Notre Dame alumni to build on their education as they contribute positively to the world and raise the University’s profile both at home and abroad.”
Notre Dame’s 2015-16 Fulbright finalists are:
- Kathryne Bascom, Brecksville, Ohio; Russian and Medieval studies, Class of 2015 — English Teaching Assistantship to Russia.
- Michael Berino, San Pablo, California; Alliance for Catholic Education Class of 2014 — English Teaching Assistantship to Senegal.
- Eric Donahue, Brentwood, Tennessee; biological sciences and German, Class of 2015 — study and research grant to Germany.
- Claire Donovan, Lafayette, Colorado; French and international development studies, Class of 2015 — study and research grant to Togo.
- Adam Foley, Kent, Ohio; history graduate student — study and research grant to Italy.
- Leila Green, Milwaukee; English and education, schooling and society, Class of 2015 — English Teaching Assistantship to South Africa.
- Christina Gutierrez, Nashville, Tennessee; political science and Romance languages and literatures, Class of 2015 — study and research grant to Italy.
- Erin Hattler, Denver; anthropology and German, Class of 2014 — English Teaching Assistantship to Germany.
- Stefanie Israel, South Bend, Indiana; sociology graduate student — study and research grant to Brazil.
- Mae Kilker, South Bend, Indiana; Medieval Institute graduate student — study and research grant to Sweden.
- Alexis Palá, San Antonio, Texas; anthropology and theology, Class of 2015 — study and research grant to Chile.
- Kendra Reiser, Seattle; psychology and education, schooling and society, Class of 2015 — English Teaching Assistantship to Indonesia.
- Megan Rogers, Mishawaka, Indiana; sociology graduate student — study and research grant to China.
- Rachel Ruddick, Des Plaines, Illinois; biological sciences, German and education, schooling and society, Class of 2015 — English Teaching Assistantship to Germany.
- Kathryn Sawyer, South Bend; history graduate student — study and research grant to Switzerland.
- Ryan Schultheis, Evansville, Indiana; political science, international economics and business economics, Class of 2015 — English Teaching Assistantship to Mexico.
Six Notre Dame students have also been awarded with national fellowships. Vienna Wagner, a 2015 graduate in English and Carmel, Indiana, native, was awarded a Beinecke Scholarship, which enables promising young scholars to pursue a graduate education in the arts, humanities and social sciences.
Michael Dinh, a Maricopa, Arizona, native and 2016 graduate studying biological sciences and psychology and a member of the Glynn Family Honors Program, and Jacob Haley, a Murfreesboro, Tennessee, native and 2015 graduate in mathematics and economics, were each awarded a Goldwater Scholarship. This scholarship, honoring Sen. Barry Goldwater, is designed to encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in mathematics, natural sciences and engineering.
Three Class of 2015 undergraduate students were awarded with National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships, which provide funding for research-based study leading to a master’s or doctoral degree in STEM fields. Recipients include Ashley Armstrong, mechanical engineering, Flossmoor, Illinois; Patrick Marino, mechanical engineering and physics, Birmingham, Alabama; and Annie Stephenson, physics, Guymon, Oklahoma.
Applications for Fulbright and other national scholarships and fellowships are administered by CUSE and the Graduate School Office of Grants and Fellowships. CUSE provides undergraduate students in all the University’s colleges opportunities for research, scholarship and creative projects. More information on the offices is available at cuse.nd.edu and graduateschool.nd.edu.
Originally published by at news.nd.edu on July 24, 2015.