UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — For the fifth year in a row, Penn State has been included on the U.S. Department of State’s complete list of colleges and universities that produced the most Fulbright U.S. students. The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program, and top-producing institutions in 2016-17 are highlighted in the Feb. 24 edition of The Chronicle of Higher Education.
This year, 12 students from the University Park campus received Fulbright awards, making Penn State again among the top-producing research institutions in the country. Ten Penn State students received 2015-16 Fulbright awards.
The Fulbright program allows more than 1,900 U.S. students, artists and young professionals in more than 100 different fields to study, teach English and conduct research in more than 140 countries throughout the world.
Penn State student Fulbright winners for 2016-17 are Alexa Beil, Adison Godfrey, Jonathan Hanna, Conor Higgins, Jennifer Kline, Lauren Knoth, Daniel Magerman, Elyse Mark, Devin McCoy, Eric Obeysekare, Santiago Osorio, and Brendan Tomoschuk.
“These Fulbright award recipients are creative and dedicated scholars. They have been selected to pursue international educational experiences in a diverse array of fields, and will serve as ambassadors of both Penn State and the United States across the globe,” said Tanya Furman, associate vice president and associate dean for Undergraduate Education and interim director, University Fellowships Office. “We are proud of their success, and hope it will encourage more students to pursue this opportunity in the future.”
At Penn State, the Fulbright competition is administered through the University Fellowships Office, an area within the Office of Undergraduate Education that is a resource for undergraduates, graduate students, and Penn State alumni seeking information and guidance regarding scholarships and fellowships funded by sources other than Penn State. The office helps students identify scholarships or fellowships that best align with their academic achievements and long-term goals, assists students throughout the application process, and expands their expectations of themselves.
The University Fellowships Office will be sponsoring Fulbright Week April 3-7, providing opportunities for students to hear from past award recipients and learn about the application process. For more information, contact the Fellowships Office at 814-863-8199, go to ufo.psu.edu, or visit the office in 321 Boucke Building.
Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 370,000 participants — chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential — with the opportunity to exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. The Fulbright Program is funded through an annual appropriation made by Congress to the U.S. Department of State. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations in foreign countries and in the United States also provide direct and indirect support.
In the United States, the Institute of International Education administers and coordinates the activities relevant to the Fulbright U.S. Student Program on behalf of the Department of State, including conducting an annual competition for the scholarships. Some 4,000 new foreign Fulbright students and scholars come to the United States annually to study for graduate degrees, conduct research, and teach foreign languages.
Penn State was also among the U.S. Department of State’s complete list of colleges and universities that produced the most Fulbright U.S. scholars in 2016-17. The Office of Global Programs supports the efforts of Penn State faculty to participate in the program.
For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit eca.state.gov/fulbright.
The University Fellowships Office is part of Penn State Undergraduate Education, the academic administrative unit that provides leadership and coordination for University-wide programs and initiatives in support of undergraduate teaching and learning at Penn State. Learn more about Undergraduate Education at undergrad.psu.edu