College Has Record Number of Fulbright Applicants

Their dreams are lofty.

One student wants to teach English in rural Thailand.

Another student wants to conduct health research in Guatemala’s indigenous communities.

Another plans to study Sir Walter Scott at the University of St. Andrews in the UK.

As varied as the projects may be, the people involved have two things in common: they are all College of Charleston students and they are all finalists for a Fulbright.

This year, a record 14 College of Charleston students applied for the Fulbright program. Eight have received word that they are finalists.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is the largest exchange program in the U.S., offering opportunities for students and young professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and primary and secondary school teaching worldwide. The program currently awards approximately 1,900 grants annually in all fields of study and operates in more than 140 countries.

“We are immensely proud of this year’s finalists,” says Anton Vander Zee, director of the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards. “Each of them has carved out a distinct undergraduate experience that combines rigorous study and a deep intellectual curiosity about their role as scholars and citizens in a global community.”

The Office of Nationally Competitive Awards will be holding a series of informational sessions for students interested in working toward a Fulbright grant and other awards such as the Critical Language Scholarships, National Science Foundation Fellowships along with the Marshall and Rhodes scholarships.

Sessions will be held throughout the month of April. Click here for the dates and locations.

Contact the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards nationalawards@cofc.edu for more information.