Eight Scripps College graduating seniors in the class of 2009 have been offered Fulbright scholarships by the Fulbright Foundation to teach or do research abroad for a year. This is a record number for the College and expected to be among the highest in the nation this year among all U.S. colleges and universities.
The recipients are Samantha Cheng, for a biology project in Indonesia; Fatima Elkabti for a language and literature project in Jordan; Melissa Lewis for an English teaching appointment in South Korea; Amy Mann for an English teaching appointment in Bangladesh; Holly Poole for an English teaching appointment in Macau; Jessica Vaughn for an English teaching appointment in Sri Lanka; and two women who wish to remain anonymous, for an English teaching appointment in Vietnam and an English teaching appointment in South Korea. In addition, one graduating senior has declined the award.
According to Professor Thierry Boucquey, who advises students on international fellowships and scholarships, 36% of Scripps College applicants were selected as finalists, and 90% of finalists as awardees. In October, the Fulbright Foundation will release the official national rankings. “With our record five scholars last year, Scripps College ranked 18th (our first time in the top 50) in the nation among allU.S. colleges and universities,” said Boucquey.
“I wish to thank all those who have contributed to the success of these talented young women,” Boucquey said. “The Career Planning & Resources staff who helped publicize this fellowship, Professors Winston Ou, Scot Gould, Roswitha Burwick, Rita Roberts, John Peavoy, Lara Deeb, Michael Spezio, Dalton Krauss, Donald Crone, and Jennifer Wood, as well as Neva Barker and Dr. Patricia Guenther-Gleason, who all served on the Scripps Interview Committee, and all the faculty who generously gave of their time to write letters of recommendation for our candidates. Finally, thanks to Professor Rosann Simeroth, who organized a grant-writing workshop for our Fulbright applicants, Dean Conrad who facilitated it, and especially Dr. Guenther-Gleason, who tirelessly and expertly staffed the Fulbright application process.
The Fulbright Scholar Program, the U.S. Government’s flagship international exchange program, is designed to “increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.” Scholars are chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential.
The program was established by Congress in 1946 under legislation introduced by then-Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas and is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Since 1947, the Fulbright Scholar Program has awarded nearly 45,000 grants to support teaching and research in countries around the world. Today, it includes active programs in more than 125 countries.