International relations major bound for Germany on competitive Fulbright

George Kendall ’23 has found himself plunged into the role of an unintentional ambassador before. In a summer spent living on the Arctic coastline of Norway — where he volunteered with an environmental nonprofit clearing away plastic debris — he was often the sole American around for miles. 

With that came curiosity, questions and even a few surprising preconceptions from his fellow volunteers. Kendall, an international relations major, relished the chance to dig into it all. 

“It’s nice to be able to build relationships with people abroad and put a real face on the U.S. instead of just what they might have seen on the internet or social media,” said Kendall, who grew up in Cumberland, Maine. 

“That is something meaningful to me,” he said. “To get to engage with people from around the world and get involved in their communities.” 

That passion to foster connection and understanding will serve Kendall well in the year ahead. After graduating magna cum laude from Roanoke College in the spring, he was tapped for an award from the Fulbright Program, one of the most competitive and prestigious programs in international education. 

This fall, he will leave for Germany, where he’ll spend the next year teaching and serving as a cultural ambassador in the community. 

“The news came in just a couple weeks ago out of the blue,” said Kendall, who had been on the program’s short list of semi-finalists. “I was super nervous when I logged into the website to see the update. 

“I’m really excited to get over there and expand my skills. I want to make the most of everything this opportunity offers.” 

Kendall will be part of the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program founded by the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to deepen communication and cultural exchanges across nations. 

He’ll not only work in a classroom in the North Rhine-Westphalia region — known for its vibrant arts and culture scene and five UNESCO World Heritage sites — he’ll also tackle community engagement projects to take part in dialogues with residents. 

He credited the mentorships and opportunities afforded to him at Roanoke College with putting him on the Fulbright path. In addition to earning a minor in German and experiencing a semester abroad in the Leipzig program, he benefited from in-depth support in the Fulbright application process from Roanoke’s Office of Major Scholarships and Fellowships. 

That initiative, led this past year by Professor of English Emerita Martha Kuchar, offers resources and experienced guidance for students navigating the complex world of outside fellowships and grants. Honing a competitive application for high honors can take weeks. The Office of Major Scholarships and Fellowships offers one-on-one advisor meetings, essay critiques from panels of faculty and interview prep sessions. 

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“That support was instrumental for me,” Kendall said. “I don’t think I would have gotten anywhere without it, because I went into this knowing very little about the process. These were people who knew the program and had helped a bunch of other students succeed in it. 

“They were also just really encouraging,” he added, “which helped because it can be an intimidating process. I couldn’t have done it without them, especially Dr. Kuchar, who worked with me a lot.” 

Kuchar, herself a two-time recipient of a Fulbright, said Kendall’s prior international experience and his ability to connect with others made him an ideal contender for a Fulbright. The program’s entire mission is founded on a belief that reaching across borders to build mutual understanding makes us all better, she noted.  

Kendall is a sincere advocate of those ideals and well-suited to the work, Kuchar said. “George is friendly, outgoing and a great conversationalist. He will be a valuable cultural ambassador to Germany from the U.S.” 

During his years at Roanoke College, Kendall helped his fellow students as a resident advisor and rose to become a team leader in that program. Pictured left: Kendall and other resident advisors take a light-hearted photo during a 2022 team event.

He also worked as a photography fellow for the Office of Marketing and Communications and was a campus event organizer with the German Club. 

He interned with the Goethe-Institut, where he was part of an international team that worked to support a campaign celebrating German-U.S. relations. This past spring, he was presented with the Modern Languages Department’s award for Outstanding Student in German. 

Kendall’s passion for the study of new languages and cultures has personal roots that extend back to his childhood. His paternal grandmother grew up near Stuttgart, Germany, before emigrating to the United States. His decision to study German at Roanoke was inspired by her. 

“In my life, I have found that one language is not enough,” he wrote in one of his Fulbright essays, adding that he’s energized by the connections found in shared languages. 

He’s looking forward to tackling the new adventures that the year ahead will bring. “It’s not just me who did this,” he said of his Fulbright award. “Everyone who gave me feedback on my essays or wrote recommendations for me or offered encouragement along the way made this possible.  

“Roanoke is really experienced at helping people get into these grants. They help you all along the way. I would encourage other students to consider it. There is a lot of support and great people who are there for you.”