Eight UA Graduates Receive Fulbright Awards for Study, Teaching Abroad

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Eight University of Alabama graduates have won Fulbright Awards from the U.S. State Department to serve abroad as researchers and English Teaching Assistants during 2014-2015.

“We congratulate these outstanding students,” said Dr. Teresa E. Wise, UA associate provost for international education and global outreach. “They will be excellent cultural ambassadors for the United States and for The University of Alabama.”

UA recipients for 2014-15 are:

Haglaeeh Contreras, a 2013 graduate with a major in biology from Elrod, will serve as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant, known as an ETA,  in Malaysia.

Cori Eden Fain, a 2014 graduate majoring in international studies and Spanish language from Gardendale, will also serve as a Fulbright ETA in Malaysia.

Sam Guggenheimer, a 2014 graduate in international studies and economics from Dayton, Ohio, will be a Fulbright ETA in Turkey.

Rachel Hunkler, a 2013-2014 Fulbright ETA to Spain from Nashville, Tennessee, who has focused on a Global Classrooms curriculum during her first year in Spain, has received a second year Fulbright grant.  She will remain in Spain for 2014-2015 to assist in the orientation and mentoring of new Fulbright grantees to the country.

Abigail Jones, a 2013 graduate in theatre and acting from Austin, Texas, will be a Fulbright ETA in Macedonia.

Lauren Marsh, a 2014 graduate in anthropology from Prattville, has won a Fulbright Award to research the Nutrition Literacy of Infant Caregivers in Sichuan Province, China.

Jilisa Milton, a 2012 graduate in social work from Birmingham who has been an Americorps volunteer in Apopka, Florida, for two years, will serve as a Fulbright ETA in Indonesia.

Gabrielle Taylor, a 2014 graduate in telecommunications and film from Pelham, will be a Fulbright ETA in Germany for the year.

Each Fulbright grantee will also serve as a resource person for American culture in the communities in which they serve.  In addition to these duties, these Fulbright winners will complete individual independent research projects in their host countries.

The Fulbright Scholarship Program, sponsored by the U.S. State Department, is the largest U.S. international exchange program, offering opportunity for students, scholars and professionals. This year, 1,800 students were chosen from more than 11,000 applicants nationwide.

“The Fulbright program promotes mutual understanding and internationalizes community engagement,” said Dr. Beverly Hawk of the UA Center for Community-Based Partnerships. “These prestigious awards are wonderful opportunities, and these students will benefit from the experience for the rest of their lives.” In collaboration with the Capstone International Center, Hawk serves as the campus Fulbright program adviser for students.

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, international.ua.edu and cic@ua.edu. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program website is: us.fulbrightonline.org.