Thirteen U of A students and alumni have been named semi-finalists for the Fulbright U.S. Student Scholarship Program at the United States level. 

The student program offers two main awards: the English Teaching Assistantship, which allows students to serve as assistant English teachers across the globe, and the Study/Research Award, which allows students to enroll in graduate study or pursue independent research at international institutions. 

Students must first be selected by the U.S. committee prior to being considered at the international country level.

“With their desire to participate in a long-term cultural and educational exchange, these exceptional students and alumni are perfectly suited for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program,” said Jonathan Langley, associate director for the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards and the campus Fulbright Program adviser. “If selected for an award, they will clearly be model ambassadors for our state and for the country. The Office of Nationally Competitive Awards congratulates each of these semi-finalists, as well as their departments and their colleges."

The students were selected from more than 9,000 applicants during the 2022-23 application cycle. If selected as finalists at the country level, their awards will begin in the fall of 2022 and last for an academic year. The countries these semi-finalists are applying to include Australia, Belgium, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and Vietnam.

The 13 semi-finalists include:

• Hannah Allred – senior, anthropology and Spanish major – English Teaching Assistantship
• Alyssa Busbee – B.S.E. in childhood education, ’20; M.A.T. in elementary education, ’21 – English Teaching Assistantship 
• Catherine Casey – M.A.T. student in teacher education; B.A. in English, ’21 – English Teaching Assistantship
• Amber Cooper – senior, honors anthropology – Study/Research Award          
• Sunny Day – senior, international and global studies – English Teaching Assistantship
• Duru Erkan – senior, honors biology and French – English Teaching Assistantship
• Michael Fuhrman – senior, honors history and psychology – English Teaching Assistantship
• Lillie Haddock – M.S.B.E. student in biological engineering; B.S.E in biological engineering, ’19 – Study/Research Award
• Sol Halle – senior, honors international and global studies, political science – English Teaching Assistantship
• Bailee King – B.A. in psychology and studio art, ’21 – Study/Research Award
• Collin Petigna – senior, honors graphic design and Spanish – English Teaching Assistantship
• Charles Rodgers – B.S. in exercise science, ’21, summa cum laude – English Teaching Assistantship
• Lexi Scott – senior, Spanish education – English Teaching Assistantship

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and the people of other countries. 

The primary source of funding for the Fulbright Program is an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Participating governments, host institutions, corporations and foundations in foreign countries and in the U.S. also provide direct and indirect support. 

Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields. The program operates in more than 160 countries worldwide.

More that 80 U of A students and alumni have received Fulbright U.S. Student Awards in countries around the world, including Andorra, Belgium, Botswana and Mexico. Applications for the 2023-24 cycle will open on March 31 and will be due in October. Students or alumni interested in learning more about the program should reach out to the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards at awards@uark.edu or 479-575-2716.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the top 3% of U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.