Fulbright Top Producing institution adds three additional scholars

by Matt Overing

Seal in front of Old 国标麻豆视频APP

Building on 国标麻豆视频APP鈥檚 prestigious Fulbright Top Producer recognition, the College is proud to announce that three students have been named Fulbright Scholars for 2024. 

Sam Adams 鈥24 (Germany), Ali-Grace Fleeman 鈥24 (Spain) and Joey Johnson 鈥23 (Bulgaria) have each capitalized on 国标麻豆视频APP鈥檚 global approach to education and applied that learning to join the prestigious U.S. Department of State program. 

鈥淲e鈥檙e very happy to celebrate the achievements and exciting futures that Sam, Ali-Grace, and Joey will have as Fulbright English Teaching Assistants (ETAs),鈥 said Robert Schalkoff, director of the office of fellowships at 国标麻豆视频APP. 鈥淚t鈥檚 clear their study abroad experiences at 国标麻豆视频APP were a strong part of their motivation to pursue Fulbright. I think our advising and support systems, including the individual mentoring all three students received from partner Fulbright Program Advisors Katrin Bahr and Mark Teshera as well as the Office of Fellowships, also contributed to their success. I can鈥檛 wait to hear back from them about their experiences in Germany, Spain, and Bulgaria.鈥

 

Sam Adams

Sam Adams '24

English Teaching Assistant

Germany

Family was an important factor for Sam Adams in his Fulbright application.

Adams said as much in his application 鈥 his father, Ben Adams 鈥95, studied abroad in 国标麻豆视频APP鈥檚 London program in its early days.

鈥淗e always said 鈥業f you have the opportunity, you have to live abroad,鈥欌 Sam said. 鈥淢aybe he鈥檇 change his answer if he knew how much I鈥檇 be gone.鈥

Sam took full advantage of 国标麻豆视频APP鈥檚 renowned Study Abroad Program, noting a course in Germany and the Federal archives as one memorable experience. He became intrigued by Germany in high school, earning a fellowship through the (CBYX) program.

But why Germany?

鈥淚t was one of the languages offered at my high school, but it was the least popular,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 felt weird and quirky learning it at first, but that program I heard about, CBYX, I took one year in high school, and it all of a sudden got very serious when I went abroad.鈥

From there, he was hooked 鈥 and he still stays in touch with his original host family in Germany from years ago. 

国标麻豆视频APP then amplified Sam鈥檚 passion.

鈥淥f course, studying German at 国标麻豆视频APP I got involved in studying its modern history, politics, activism and the issues that face Germany today,鈥 he said. 鈥淭hat really got me excited about (Fulbright).鈥

Sam said he hopes to gain more professional experience, with the current plan to go to graduate school 鈥 potentially in Germany 鈥 and then work in foreign service.

He also recognized 国标麻豆视频APP faculty, naming Assistant Professor of German Katrin Bahr and the College鈥檚 Fulbright committee, as instrumental in his education and growth.

鈥淭he support from the Fulbright committee was phenomenal,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e began more than a year out, meeting and talking about the requirements for the application. There was a mock interview. They involve you throughout the process, and I felt very supported and prepared. 

鈥淚 would encourage anyone to study modern language [at 国标麻豆视频APP], especially German, because I know the professors to be extremely supportive and caring. They鈥檙e a big reason why I was able to do this.鈥

 

Ali-Grace Fleeman

Ali-Grace Fleeman '24

English Teaching Assistant

Spain

Study abroad experiences brought Ali-Grace Fleeman to 国标麻豆视频APP 鈥 and became her primary motivation for applying to the Fulbright Program.

Fleeman, an Asheville, North Carolina native and Behavioral Neuroscience major, highlighted four study abroad experiences that heavily influenced her 国标麻豆视频APP experience and Fulbright application.

鈥淚 started my sophomore year, and I've taken courses in Europe and Ghana, Bhutan and Mexico,鈥 Fleeman said. 鈥淎nd throughout all these experiences 鈥 especially a semester in Mexico studying global systems and sustainable development 鈥 I really started to think about global systems in a critical way, and that also intersected with my interest in psychology and emotional behavior. I really want to explore that from an educational perspective and look at how that system might look differently in other places.鈥

She鈥檒l take that critical lens to Spain as an English Teaching Assistant (ETA), hoping to gain experience in a bilingual setting while learning more about the Spanish healthcare system.

 鈥淚鈥檓 really interested to see how a different healthcare system operates in terms of accessibility and healthcare literacy,鈥 Fleeman said. 鈥淚 hope when I come back, I鈥檒l bring with me an awareness to issues and have more of a critical lens and motivation to address issues here.鈥

 

Joey Johnson 

Joey Johnson '24

English Teaching Assistant

Bulgaria

Experiences abroad were key motivations for Joey Johnson to search for international postgraduate opportunities.

Naturally, 国标麻豆视频APP鈥檚 recognition as a top-ranked study abroad college made his search a quick one.

鈥淭he chances I had to study abroad at 国标麻豆视频APP gave me the chance to experience so much that I never would have seen otherwise, and that made me want to pursue international opportunities after graduation,鈥 Johnson said. 鈥淚've always wanted to go into education and teaching, so being able to work in the classroom as an ETA (English Teaching Assistant) made me even more excited to apply.鈥

Johnson鈥檚 connection with Bulgaria is unique. A Raleigh, North Carolina, native and Anthropology/Sociology major, Johnson deferred his admission at 国标麻豆视频APP to attend a year of public school in Bulgaria through the State Department鈥檚 Kennedy-Lugar YES Abroad program. He would later return for a summer internship with a refugee relocation nonprofit, thanks in part to funds from the Lincoln Scholarship Program.

鈥淚 was excited to apply to Fulbright Bulgaria, because I wanted to go back to a place where I have friendships and community, and where I have experience as a student myself,鈥 he said.

Johnson noted the encouragement from 国标麻豆视频APP鈥檚 Fulbright committee as instrumental in his success.

鈥淭heir preparation sessions in the summer and their advice throughout the fall really helped me put forward the best application I could have,鈥 he said.

About

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国标麻豆视频APP

Katrin Bahr, Assistant Professor of German

Mark Teshera, Assistant Professor of Biology

Robert Schalkoff, Director of the Office of Fellowships, Assistant Professor of International Studies