WASHINGTON, PA (Feb. 22, 2018)—Washington and Jefferson College (W&J) has been recognized as a top producer of Fulbright Scholars and Students for 2017-2018, according to data from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
W&J is tied for 11th in the nation for most Fulbright student awards among Carnegie Classified bachelor’s institutions, as reported by The Chronicle of Higher Education.
This is the second year in a row that W&J College has received this designation. The College also was recognized as a top producer of Fulbright Scholars and Students for the 2016-17 academic year.
In April 2017, seven W&J students and alumni received U.S. Fulbright Student Grants and were selected to complete projects around the world for the 2017-18 academic year.
“W&J has been making strong advances in our international programs and is providing students with a comprehensive, globally focused curriculum. The Fulbright Commission recognized these efforts in our amazing students,” said Michael Shaughnessy, associate dean of graduate students and international programs. “Earning seven awards in one year places W&J among the top institutions in the country, and this is a record setting year for us.”
Kayla Grey ’17 is currently in La Rioja, Spain, teaching English at the elementary level and will complete her project in June of this year. Charanya Kaushik ’13 is spending the academic year at the public health school of Universidad El Bosque in Bogota, Colombia, to analyze and improve services for patients with different types of cancer and will conclude her project in June. Tina Lee ’17 has a teaching assistantship with elementary and middle school children in Taiwan and will finish her project in June.
Jake Meyers ’15 is in the middle of his 10-month project working with the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Ministry of Environment in Prek Toal, Cambodia, to be completed in June. Angela Nied ’17 traveled to Bavaria, Germany for an English teaching assistantship which she will complete in June. Emily Sterk ’17 took on an English teaching assistantship at the Universidad Nacional in Bogota and will finish her project in May. Joshua Zahren ’17 traveled to Bamberg, Germany for an English teaching assistantship which he will complete in June.
“I’m incredibly proud of our seven Fulbright recipients this year. They have worked very hard to earn these prestigious awards and are shining examples of the strength of W&J in international education,” Shaughnessy said.
The College also served as a host for 24 German Fulbright students during a three-week scholastic program in the summer of 2017 and will host 30 German Fulbright students this summer. W&J is one of only two institutions in the United States hosting these student groups.
Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 380,000 participants the opportunity to exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. Over 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.
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State, funded by an annual appropriation from the U.S. Congress to the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and supported in its implementation by the Institute of International Education.
Learn more about the Fulbright Program at http://eca.state.gov/fulbright.
For more information about Fulbright at W&J, contact Susan Vdovichenko, Fulbright Program Advisor at svdovichenko@washjeff.edu.
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.
