Five University of Scranton Students Earn Fulbright Awards
Five University of Scranton students received Fulbright Awards through the U.S. Student Program for the 2016-2017 academic year. Front row, from left are, Sarah Fitch who was awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Malaysia; Susan Trussler, Ph.D., Fulbright advisor and associate professor of economics and finance at the University; and Aimee Miller, who was awarded a Fulbright Academic Award to China. Back row are: Olivia Gillespie, who was awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Brazil; Ivan Simpson-Kent, who was awarded a Fulbright Academic Award to Germany; and Veronica Sinotte, who was awarded a Fulbright Academic Award to Denmark.
Five University of Scranton students have been awarded Fulbright grants, the esteemed merit-based scholarships, enabling them to spend a year conducting research or teaching abroad during the 2016-2017 academic year. Since 1972, a total of 155 University students have been awarded grants in the competition that includes Fulbrights, administered by the Institute of International Education.
The Fulbright Program is the “flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government,” according to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Recipients are selected on the basis of academic achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields.
The University’s Fulbright recipients earned either a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship or a Fulbright Academic Award as part of the U.S. Student Program, which offers fellowships for graduating seniors, graduate students and working professionals.
The University’s student Fulbright recipients are: Sarah Fitch ’16, Candor, New York, English Teaching Assistantship to Malaysia; Olivia Gillespie ’16, Woodbine, New Jersey, English Teaching Assistantship to Brazil; Ivan Simpson-Kent ’16, Philadelphia, Academic Award to Germany; Veronica Sinotte ’16, North Wales, Academic Award to Denmark; and Aimee Miller ’12, G’17, Lancaster, Academic Award to China.
Gillespie, Fitch, Simpson-Kent and Sinotte will graduate this academic year with bachelor’s degrees. Miller, who earned her bachelor’s degree from Scranton in 2012, will graduate from Scranton in 2017 with a master’s degree in healthcare administration.
“This year, all five of our Fulbright national semi-finalists received awards, which is a remarkable achievement,” said Susan Trussler, Ph.D., the University’s Fulbright Program advisor and associate professor of economics and finance. “Because of their commitment to academics and volunteer service, they now have the opportunity to experience and immerse themselves in cultures across the world through this preeminent international program.”
The Fulbright Program, designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries, operates in more than 160 nations worldwide. Past recipients have achieved excellence in their careers and have earned many prestigious awards including 53 Nobel Prizes, 88 Pulitzer Prizes, 29 MacArthur Foundation Awards and 16 U.S. Presidential Medals of Freedom. Thirty Fulbright alumni have also served as heads of state or government.
Additional information about each Fulbright recipient can be found by clicking on the student’s name above.
