Nine current and former Florida State University students have been awarded scholarships through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. The winners, comprising graduate and undergraduate students from a range of majors and areas of research, will conduct research or teaching assistantships in Taiwan, Bulgaria, Scotland, Brazil, Spain and its Canary Islands, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Greece and Türkiye. The Fulbright application process is highly competitive and rigorous. The hope is that the success of the FSU awardees will inspire other students to apply for the program. Undergraduates, graduate students and recent alumni are encouraged to contact FSU’s Office of National Fellowships for more information.
Nine current and former Florida State University students have been awarded scholarships through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, a prestigious initiative that provides opportunities for American students to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. The winners include both graduate and undergraduate students, representing a diverse range of majors and areas of research. Five of them will be pursuing teaching assistantships, while the remaining four will focus on conducting research in countries such as Taiwan, Bulgaria, Scotland, Brazil, Spain, Uruguay, and Uzbekistan.
As per the analysis by Jesse Wieland, associate director of the Office of National Fellowships (ONF) at FSU, the Fulbright application process is highly competitive and rigorous. He stated that this year’s awardees spent months, and in some cases years, developing their research projects and preparing their application materials. “These students truly represent academic excellence and what is obtainable for FSU students at both the undergraduate and graduate degree levels,” he added.
The hope from the ONF is that FSU’s Fulbright awardees will inspire other students to dream big and embark on the application process. Bonnie Garcia-Gloeckner, assistant director at ONF, encouraged undergraduate and graduate students, as well as recent alumni, to contact their office for more information on the application process. The first campus deadline is June 7th, and the office would welcome the opportunity to work with interested students and alumni.
The following are the nine FSU students who have been awarded Fulbright scholarships:
1. Rachel Harbin Blankenship, a master’s student from Memphis, Tennessee, majoring in Art Therapy, has been awarded a Fulbright/University of Stirling Award in Health, Well-being, and Sport. She will be pursuing her research in Sport Psychology in Stirling, Scotland, UK.
2. Denisha Campbell, a doctoral candidate from Chicago, Illinois, majoring in Communication Science and Disorders, has been awarded an English Teaching Assistantship in Uruguay. She is interested in literacy practices and will be focusing on that during her Fulbright work.
3. Miguel Gonzalez, a senior from Miami, Florida, majoring in International Affairs, has been awarded an English Teaching Assistantship in Brazil. In addition to teaching English, he will create and host multicultural events to promote cultural exchange.
4. Arria Hauldin, a recent graduate from Tallahassee, Florida, majoring in International Affairs and Political Science, has been awarded an English Teaching Assistantship in Spain and its Canary Islands. She will be working with students to improve English language skills and cultural awareness.
5. Mia Hernandez, a recent graduate from Miami, Florida, majoring in International Affairs and Spanish, has been awarded a Fulbright Open Study/Research Award to split her time between Greece and Türkiye. She will be conducting research on the refugee crisis and its impact on women’s rights in both countries.
6. Caitlin Mims, a recent graduate from Tallahassee, Florida, majoring in International Affairs and Political Science, has been awarded an English Teaching Assistantship in Bulgaria. She will be working with students to improve their English language skills and cultural exchange.
7. Michelle Perez, a recent graduate from Miami, Florida, majoring in International Affairs and Political Science, has been awarded an English Teaching Assistantship in Taiwan. She will be working with students to improve their English language skills and cultural exchange.
8. Rachel Neale, a recent graduate from Clearwater, Florida, majoring in International Affairs, has been awarded a Fulbright Open Study/Research Award in Uzbekistan. She will be conducting research on women’s rights and gender equality in Uzbekistan.
9. Tessa Santner, a recent graduate from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, majoring in International Affairs and Political Science, has been awarded an English Teaching Assistantship in Spain. She will be working with students to improve their English language skills and cultural exchange.
FSU’s Fulbright awardees are an impressive group of students who have demonstrated academic excellence, a passion for research and teaching, and a commitment to cultural exchange. Their achievements serve as an inspiration to other students to pursue their dreams and explore opportunities for studying, teaching, and conducting research abroad. For more information on the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and other national fellowships, visit FSU’s Office of National Fellowships.
