Five University of Colorado Boulder graduate students or alumni have been offered Fulbright grants to pursue teaching, research and graduate studies abroad during the 2014-15 academic year.
One doctoral student’s proposed topic of study in Thailand is the use of ultraviolet light and LED (light-emitting diode) technology to remove pathogens from reusable wastewater. Another doctoral student plans to study media practices and products in Australia that shape a particular Aboriginal identity.
The 2014 CU-Boulder students who have received Fulbright offers and their destination countries are: Stephanie Ahlgrain, Mexico; Sara Beck, Thailand; Jessica Bloise, Mexico; William Lempert, Australia; and Brooke Wittleder, Brazil.
“The work of our students and their contributions to the global community are inspiring,” said Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano. “As ambassadors of CU-Boulder, they are bettering the world while setting an exciting path forward for their own lives and careers.”
Three of the CU-Boulder recipients are recent alumni who have been offered grants to teach English through the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship program.
“I have chosen Mexico because I plan to teach English as a second language in the U.S. and would like to get to know the home culture of many of my future students,” said Ahlgrain.
Wittleder is planning to become a high school science teacher, but first wants to broaden her teaching and language skills as well as her cultural awareness in Brazil. Bloise plans to start an after-school English conversation club in Mexico, in addition to teaching.
A total of 147 CU-Boulder students have received Fulbright grant notifications since 1978, including this year’s recipients, according to CU-Boulder’s Office of International Education (OIE).
“Through the Fulbright program mutual understanding and cross-cultural relations across the globe are increased,” said Larry Bell, executive director of OIE. “We’re proud to each year have students who pursue Fulbright and other such opportunities. Not only do they broaden their own horizons, but they advance scholarly knowledge and impact people’s lives with their research and teaching projects.”
Fulbright students are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields. The 68-year-old program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, operates in more than 140 countries and currently awards about 1,900 grants annually to U.S. students, foreign students, U.S. scholars, visiting scholars, teachers and professionals.
Students interested in applying for the Fulbright program should visit http://www.colorado.edu/oie/finances-scholarships-and-fellowships/us-student-fulbright-opportunities. The CU-Boulder Fulbright application deadline for 2015-16 grants is Sept. 8, 2014. For more information on graduate student opportunities abroad including the Fulbright program visit http://www.colorado.edu/oie/global-cu/graduate-student-opportunities-abroad.
Contact:
Larry Bell, 303-492-8058
lawrence.bell@colorado.edu
Nancy Vanacore, CU-Boulder OIE, 303-492-6016
nancy.vanacore@colorado.edu
Elizabeth Lock, CU-Boulder media relations, 303-492-3117
elizabeth.lock@colorado.edu
Stephanie Ahlgrain.
William Lempert
Brooke Wittleder
