12 UA Students, Graduates Chosen for Fulbright Awards

12 UA Students, Graduates Chosen for Fulbright Awards

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Twelve University of Alabama students and graduates were chosen as Fulbright Student Award Winners for 2019–2020.

“During their year abroad, these leaders of tomorrow are putting into action the diverse and intercultural experiences and education that UA provides,” said Dr. Teresa E. Wise, associate provost for international education and global outreach. “Congratulations to UA’s Fulbright winners and alternates.”

The U.S. Student Fulbright Program provides grants for individually designed study and research projects or for English-teaching assistantships to 160 countries. More than 10,000 applicants compete for approximately 2,100 awards each year.

“These students have emerged from the national Fulbright competition as the best in the nation,” said Dr. Beverly Hawk, UA Fulbright program adviser and director of global and community engagement in the Center for Community-Based Partnerships. “They represent our excellence in education to the nation and the world. Through their individual community engagement activities overseas, these Fulbright winners will develop lasting international ties for Alabama and the USA.”

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Fulbright is the largest U.S. international exchange program, offering opportunities for students, scholars and professionals.

Twelve UA graduates and students received Fulbright Awards for the upcoming academic year:

    • Tommy P. Brazie, of Huntsville, a 2019 graduate in international studies and German language and literature with a minor in French and the certificate in global studies, was chosen to teach in Germany.
    • Courtney Geary, of Somerset, Pennsylvania, a University Fellow in the Honors College, a Blackburn Fellow and a 2019 graduate of New College majoring in interdisciplinary studies with minors in international studies and educational studies, was chosen to teach in Jordan.
    • Cole Jones, of Nashville, Tennessee, a University Fellow in the Honors College and a 2019 graduate in management information systems with a minor in social innovation and leadership, was chosen to teach in Malaysia.
    • Ciara Malaugh, of Madison, a member of the Honors College, a 2017 graduate in political science and a Truman Scholar, was chosen to teach in Romania.
    • Amica Rapadas, of Homewood, a member of the Honors College and a 2019 graduate in international studies and geography with a minor in Chinese and the certificate in global studies, was chosen to teach in Taiwan.
    • Pamela Grace Turner, of Fairhope, a member of the Honors College and a 2018 graduate in public relations and international studies with a minor in Spanish, was chosen to teach in Colombia.
    • Sophia Warner, of Birmingham, a Blackburn Fellow and a 2019 graduate in international studies with minors in German, Russian and liberal arts through the Blount Scholars Program, was chosen to teach in Germany.
    • Samantha Wetzel, of Hudson, Illinois, a 2019 graduate in public relations and foreign languages and literature with a concentration in German, was chosen to teach in Germany.
    • Ellery Wiemer, of Lombard, Illinois, a 2019 graduate in marketing with a concentration in global business, a minor in German and the certificate in global studies, was chosen to teach in Germany.
    • Madeline Willoughby, of Houston, a 2019 graduate in elementary education, was chosen to teach in Malaysia.
    • Amanda Filardo of Prospect, Kentucky, a 2019 Honors College graduate in international studies with minors in Russian and Italian and the certificate in global studies, was chosen to teach in Kazakhstan.
    • Larry Monocello of Erie, Pennsylvania, who holds a bachelor’s in anthropology (2015) from Case Western Reserve University and a master’s in biocultural medical anthropology (2017) from UA with language study in Korean, was chosen to conduct research about Male Body Ideals and Mental Health among Men in South Korea.

Other UA graduates and students were selected as alternates. Alternates may serve should winners be unable to travel to the designated country or if additional funds become available. The alternates are:

  • Julia Coursey, of Washington, D.C., who holds a bachelor’s in liberal arts from St. John’s College and is a UA graduate student in creative writing, to conduct research in Hungary
  • Jennifer Reaves, of Muscle Shoals, a member of the Honors College and a 2019 graduate in finance, to teach in Malaysia
  • Claire Stebbins, of Miamisburg, Ohio, a University Fellow in the Honors College and a 2019 graduate in journalism and political science with minors in educational studies and social innovation and leadership, to teach in The Netherlands
  • Olivia Turner, of Cumming, Georgia, a member of the Honors College and a 2019 graduate in Spanish and art history with a minor in English, to teach in Argentina

In February, for the third time in four years, The University of Alabama was recognized as a Top Producing Institution for Fulbright U.S. Students.

Students with an interest in next year’s competition should contact Fulbright coordinator Megan Wagner, of the Capstone International Center, 135 B.B. Comer Hall, cic@ua.edu, or Fulbright advisers Dr. Matthew Feminella, of modern languages and classics, 263B B.B. Comer Hall, mfeminella@ua.edu; or Dr. Beverly Hawk, of the UA Center for Community-Based Partnerships, 1114 Capital Hall, beverly.hawk@ua.edu.

 

Contact

Richard LeComte, department of communications, 205-348-3782, richard.lecomte@ua.edu