Nine OU students and alumni have received Fulbright awards for the 2019-2020 academic year to study, teach English and conduct research in various countries, according to a press release from OU.
The Fulbright Scholars Program was founded in 1946 by Sen. J. William Fulbright, the longest-serving chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The program is based on building "mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries," according to its website.
The four students pursuing or graduating with a master’s degree or doctorate who were chosen are Noah Collins, who is graduating with a master’s degree in anthropology; Sara Fisher, who is graduating with a master’s degree in international studies; Elliot Holland, who is currently pursuing a master’s degree in German; Trai Spikes, who is a doctoral candidate in ecological and evolutionary biology, according to the release.
The three students graduating with a bachelor’s degree who were chosen are Matthew Walters, who is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in international studies and Russia; Sierra Smith, who is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in biology; David Louden, who is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Russian, according to the release.
The two OU alumni who were chosen are Andrew Moore, who graduated in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and Wyatt Stanford, who graduated in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in public relations and French, according to the release.
Eight OU students were also named as alternates for the award, and may be offered an award if more funding is available, according to the release. The alternates are Elisabeth Howell, Krisangel Lopez, David Bartholomew, Elizabeth Penn, Brian Schibler, Danielle Higginbotham and Paula Allecia Jones, according to the release.
Since 1949, there have been 97 Fulbright scholars at OU, according to the release. Students are chosen based on their academics and leadership skills, and the program brings together over 1,900 students, artists and early career professionals in over 100 different fields to exchange ideas and find solutions to international concerns, according to the release.
“We are exceptionally proud of our students and their talent and hard work, which enabled them to receive these prestigious awards,” Bushra Asif, the Fulbright program adviser at OU, said in the release. “Fulbright grants are awarded on the basis of academic excellence, achievement and leadership potential.”
