Four Ball State University students were awarded Fulbright scholarships for the 2010 - 2011 academic year, the highest number of honorees for Ball State in one year, while another student received an Udall scholarship.
Fulbright Program Adviser for Ball State Dom Caristi said in a press release that the quality of applicants this year was outstanding.
"Despite an ever-increasing number of applicants nationwide, having four Fulbright winners makes this the largest number ever for the university," he said. "It's a testament to the quality of the students, their diligence and preparation."
The Fulbright Scholar Program, which is sponsored by the U.S. State Department, is intended to increase mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and more than 150 countries. This year, approximately 1,500 students and graduates were awarded scholarships.
Steven Jones, a doctoral candidate in English literature, was awarded a full Fulbright grant to the United Kingdom. As one of the most competitive of all grant programs, Jones will study the correspondence of two 20th-century authors at the National Library of Wales.
Katherine Kovac and Erin Loch, both graduates, received the Fulbright English teaching assistantships and will teach English as a second language to middle school or high school students in Germany.
Kovac said after the long application process, her application went to the national competition, where she competed with students from around the country.
Kovac hopes to develop an American literature book club. She said teaching in a foreign county has been a dream of hers for years, and with her passion for the German language and country, she is excited to have the independent opportunity to use her skills abroad.
However, she said the best part will be meeting students with the same interests from around the country.
"On orientation days when we first get there, it'll be interesting to see people from all over the nation like universities in Washington, New York and California," she said. "It'll be great to meet all those people and [see that] we are all into the same thing."
Loch will make the grant her own by offering tutoring services and conversation sessions to allow students to practice their English.
Staci Defibaugh, who just received her Master of Arts in linguistics/TESOL, received the Fulbright scholarship to Romania. She will teach English as a second language at a university and an educational advising center. She hopes to create a bilingual craft circle, where she will focus on traditional Romanian embroidery and weaving.
Kovac said the Fulbright Scholar Program is a great opportunity for college students and more people should be aware of it and apply.
"There are four of us [scholarship winners] this year, and in the past we have had one or two," she said. "We had such good applications from Ball State; we should be proud."
In addition to the Fulbright scholarships, senior architecture major Abigail Shemoel was awarded the 2010 Udall scholarship. Shemoel was one of 80 students nationwide to receive the award. The scholarship is considered the most prestigious in the nation for undergraduate students committed to environmental careers or Native American tribal issues.
As the fifth Ball State student to win the Udall scholarship since 2005, Shemoel hopes to get her master's in global affairs in order to address environmental and humanitarian challenges around the world.
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