UA Graduates Win Fulbright Scholarships

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.  — Four University of Alabama graduates have accepted Fulbright awards to study and teach abroad during 2013-2014.

In addition to their teaching duties, these Fulbright winners will complete individual independent research projects in their host countries. Three other UA graduates were selected for Fulbright awards but have committed to other international work, including the Peace Corps and teaching in China.

Emma Fick, an English major from Covington, La., will serve in Serbia, where she will assist an English instructor. Carolyn Bero, a Spanish, international studies and political science major from Madison; and Rachel Hunkler, a Spanish and secondary education major from Nashville, Tenn., will assist English teachers in Spain. Anna Foley, of Richardson, Texas, a 2011 graduate of UA who has been serving as a bilingual instructor for Teach For America in Denver, will serve in Brazil.

“We are extremely proud of the achievements of these outstanding students and wish them success as they begin their professional careers and represent our university and our nation in the world,” said Dr. Teresa E. Wise, UA associate provost for international education and global outreach.

The highly competitive Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides grants for individually designed study and research projects or for English Teaching Assistantships. This year, 1,700 students were chosen from 9,690 applicants nationwide to be honored with Fulbright Scholarships.

The Fulbright Scholarship Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, is the largest U.S. international exchange program, offering opportunity for students, scholars and professionals. The program allows participants to undertake international graduate study, advanced research and teaching in more than 150 countries. The purpose of the program is to increase mutual understanding between the peoples of the United States and their host countries.

During their grants, the Fulbright Fellows will learn as well as teach, as they live alongside people in their host countries.

The program facilitates cultural exchange through direct interaction on an individual basis in the classroom, in the field, in routine tasks, and at home, allowing the grantee to gain an appreciation of others’ viewpoints and beliefs, the way they do things, and the way they think.

Through this individual engagement with the host community, the fellows will contribute to mutual understanding across cultures.

Students interested in applying for next year’s Fulbright competition can learn more about Fulbright opportunities from the Capstone International Center, 135 B.B. Comer Hall, and at international.ua.edu and fulbrightonline.org; email cic@ua.edu for more information.