Scranton Continues Strong Fulbright Tradition
Six University of Scranton graduates earned Fulbright scholarships for 2011, bringing the total to 134 for University of Scranton students receiving grants in the competitions administered by the Institute of International Education (Fulbright) and International Rotary since 1972. Standing (from left) are: Susan Trussler, Ph.D., Fulbright program advisor at The University of Scranton, and Fulbright scholarship recipients Gian P. Vergnetti, Philip J. Kachmar, Aileen M. Monks, Rebecca Bartley, and Kaitlyn L. Doremus. Fulbright recipient Melissa C. Beltz was absent when the photo was taken.
Six University of Scranton graduates will make the most of their individual talents and interests as they share with – and learn from – cultures across the world as Fulbright scholars.
In a banner year for an already strong tradition at Scranton, six graduates were awarded Fulbright U.S. Student Program scholarships for the 2011/2012 academic year – the U.S. government’s premier scholarship program for overseas graduate study, research and teaching. They will travel to the United Arab Emirates, India, Germany, Malaysia and Canada. The University of Scranton’s national finalists won scholarships from a pool of more than 9,000 applicants nationally.
For six consecutive years, The Chronicle of Higher Education has listed The University of Scranton among the “top producers” of Fulbright awards for American students. Since 1972, a total of 134 University of Scranton students have received grants in the competitions administered by the Institute of International Education.
“As Fulbright scholars, our graduates will focus on research and teaching projects ranging from studying the successful sustainable technology cluster of the world’s first carbon-neutral development in the desert outside Abu Dhabi to teaching English as a second language to middle schoolers in Delhi,” said Susan Trussler, Ph.D., Fulbright program advisor and associate professor of economics/finance at The University of Scranton. “But of equal importance, each of these six graduates will immerse themselves in the local communities and continue their remarkable records of service by volunteering as coaches, small business advisors, and moderators of student clubs in their respective host countries.”
Members of the University’s class of 2011 earning Fulbright scholarships are:
• Rebecca Bartley ’11
During her Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Malaysia, Bartley will teach English as a second language at a high school in Terengganu State. The management and marketing major also plans to start a business club for the students and prove small business development advice to local artists and crafts persons.
• Melissa C. Beltz ’11
During her Fulbright/Pädagogischer Austauschdienst English Teaching Assistantship to Germany, Beltz will teach English as a second language to high school students in Thuringen. She will also study how sports and performing arts are integrated into curriculum in German schools and the ways in which these activities are organized and supported in the local community.
• Kaitlyn L. Doremus ’11
Doremus will teach conversational English in a middle school during her Fulbright/Pädagogischer Austauschdienst English Teaching Assistantship to Germany. While studying abroad, she plans to collect photographs to use in her classes when she returns to the United States to teach.
• Philip J. Kachmar ’11
During his Fulbright Scholarship to the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, Kachmar will pursue a master’s degree in political science and work with Philip Resnick, Ph.D., a renowned political theorist.
• Aileen M. Monks ’10, G’11
Monks will teach English to 10- to 14-year-old students at the Navyug School in New Delhi during her Fulbright-Nehru English Teaching Assistantship to India. She also plans to develop a cross-country or track team at the school and to volunteer for the local Kiwanis Club.
• Gian Peter Vergnetti ’08
During his Fulbright Scholarship to the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Vergnetti will embark on a 10-month cultural and economic development research endeavor exploring the nascent and flourishing Masdar sustainable technology cluster in Masdar City.
The scholarships were announced recently by the United States Department of the State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.