WASHINGTON, PA (May 15, 2018)— Washington & Jefferson College (W&J) seniors Kayla Conforti, Michaela Culley, and Victoria Healy will travel to Europe through programs affiliated with the U.S. Fulbright program.
“W&J students tend to be well qualified for these awards. Our students’ recent track record of winning Fulbrights reinforces that everything we are trying to do at the College—facilitate the development of well-informed, global citizens with uncommon integrity—is working,” said Susan Vdovichenko, Ph.D., W&J assistant professor of Russian and Fulbright Program Advisor.
The students were selected for the following programs:
- Kayla earned a teaching assistantship through the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF). She will travel to Brittany, France, to teach English at L'Académie de Rennes for the 2018-2019 school year. “I was elated when I saw I was accepted to the program and would have the opportunity to return to France,” Kayla said. “I intend to continue my studies in economics or international relations, and I really had a lot to consider when deciding if I should accept the position first and then go to graduate school. I knew it would be difficult to return to France in this capacity after grad school, and I couldn't pass the opportunity up.”
- Michaela accepted a position from Fulbright Austria as a United States Teaching Assistant. She will be teaching English at a high school level in Innsbruck, Austria during the 2018-2019 school year. “I am very fortunate to have been chosen by Fulbright Austria to teach not only English, but American culture,” Michaela said. “When I studied abroad, I always loved answering questions about my native country, culture and language. Encouraging cultural education is something very important to me, and having the opportunity to do so for the culture I love is a dream come true!”
- Victoria was selected for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Bavaria, Germany, for the 2018-2019 school year. She is currently awaiting more information on her placement through the program. “I want to explore my options teaching and I love Germany,” Victoria said. “I am beyond excited to go back to my favorite country and spend a year immersed in their culture again.”
W&J’s ties to the Fulbright program are a staple of the College. Earlier this year, W&J was named a Top Producer of Fulbright Scholars and Students by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. This summer, the school will act as a host to 30 German students for a three-week Fulbright education program. This is the second year W&J has hosted German students and the College will be one of only two institutions in the nation hosting these groups.
More than 1,900 U.S. students, artists and young professionals are offered Fulbright Program grants to study, teach English, and conduct research abroad each year. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program operates in over 140 countries throughout the world.
For more information on the Fulbright Program, visit https://us.fulbrightonline.org/.
About Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, located in Washington, Pa., is a selective liberal arts college founded in 1781. Committed to providing each of its students with the highest-quality undergraduate education available, W&J offers a traditional arts and sciences curriculum emphasizing interdisciplinary study and independent study work. For more information about W&J, visit washjeff.dev, or call 888-W-AND-JAY.
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