Six students are Fulbright semi-finalists

This year six seniors are semi-finalists for the prestigious and highly competitive Fulbright student scholarships that facilitate study, research, and English teaching assistantships (ETA) around the globe. Roanoke College was named a top producer of Fulbright U.S. Students for 2017-2018.

The semi-finalists are:

• Emma Blair is an economics, actuarial science and Spanish triple major with a minor in math from Salem, Virginia. She has applied to be an English teaching assistant in Spain.
• Sasha Bronder is a religious studies and sociology major from Providence Forge, Virginia. She has applied to be an English teaching assistant in Malaysia.
• Erin Hannon is a history major from Birdsboro, Pennsylvania. She has applied to be an English teaching assistant in Guatemala.
• Linnea Stewart is an environmental studies major from Edinburg, Virginia. She has applied to study and do research in India.
• Olivia Streett is a history major and German minor from Bel Aire, Maryland. She has applied to study and do research in Germany.
• Gabe Umland is a business administrations major with a minor in math from Quaker Hill, Connecticut. He has applied to be an English teaching assistant in Indonesia.

The Fulbright U.S Student Program awards approximately 1,900 grants a year. Since 2012, the number of Roanoke students who have received some of the nation's top scholarships and fellowships has tripled, compared with previous years.  

At Roanoke College, the Fulbright competition is administered through Professor Jenny Rosti, the director of major scholarships and fellowships. Rosti works with students interested in applying for programs such as Fulbright, Truman and Rhodes scholarships. 

"Fulbright provides the chance to fulfill dreams of researching or teaching in another culture,” said Rosti. “With a lot of work and help from many people on campus, these six have moved a step closer to that dream.  We all couldn't be prouder of and more excited for them." 

The application process includes securing affiliations, drafting statements, lining up recommendations, weekly meetings, group workshops, and a campus committee review and evaluation in front of three faculty Fulbrights.

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.

For more information about the Fulbright Program, click here.