WKU Named A Top Producer Of U.S. Fulbright Students

Western Kentucky University has been included in a list of colleges and universities producing 2009-2010 Fulbright Fellows. The success of the top producing institutions was highlighted in the Oct. 19 print edition of "The Chronicle of Higher Education."

Two WKU students who recently graduated from the Potter College of Arts & Letters won Fulbright awards for 2009-2010, more than any other public higher education institution in Kentucky.

Richard Deem of Fort Knox received a Fulbright Scholarship to teach English as a Foreign Language in Giessen, Germany. He was assisted by Dr. Laura McGee, associate professor and interim head of the Department of Modern Languages.

Katherine Rose Hale of Nicholasville received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Argentina. She was assisted by Dr. Larry Snyder, associate dean of Potter College.
           
"This is very impressive," WKU President Gary Ransdell said. "Internationalization is very important part of the WKU experience and this emphasis is evident in the accomplishments of our students through the Fulbright and other national scholarship programs. I am also pleased with the support and assistance these students receive throughout the application process from our faculty."
           
The Fulbright competition is administered at WKU through the Office of Scholar Development by Amy Eckhardt and Jeanne Sokolowski.
           
Under this program, 1,559 American students in more than 100 different fields of study have been offered grants to study, teach English, and conduct research in over 125 countries throughout the world beginning this fall.   
Of the 1,557 Fulbrighters, 19 percent are at the Ph.D. degree level, 17 percent are at the Master's level, and 65 percent are at the Bachelor's degree level.  Students receiving awards for this academic year applied through 570 colleges or universities.  Lists of Fulbright recipients are available at: www.fulbrightonline.org/us.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program equips future American leaders with the skills they need to thrive in an increasingly global environment by providing funding for one academic year of study, research or assistant teaching abroad. 

The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.  Financial support is provided by an annual appropriation from Congress to the Department of State, with significant contributions from participating governments and host institutions in the United States and abroad.  

The presidentially appointed J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board formulates policy guidelines and makes the final selection of all grantees.          

The Fulbright Program also awards grants to American teachers and faculty to do research, lecture and teach overseas.  In addition, some 3,850 new foreign Fulbright students and scholars come to the United States annually to study, carry out research and lecture at U.S. universities, colleges and secondary schools.

More WKU news is available at http://www.wku.edu/news/index.html and at http://wkunews.wordpress.com/.

For more information, contact Amy Eckhardt, (270) 745-2081.