Five selected as Fulbright finalists
Article By: Denise Ray
Five University of North Georgia (91ÁÔÆæ) students and alumni were selected as finalists for the for the 2022-23 academic year. The highly competitive and prestigious program enables graduates to pursue research activities, teach English abroad, or enroll in graduate school.
"91ÁÔÆæ students’ capacity for global leadership, honed here at 91ÁÔÆæ, continues to open doors for great opportunities like the Fulbright," Dr. Anastasia Lin, assistant vice president for Academic Affairs and director of the Nationally Competitive Scholarships (NCS) office, said.
This year 91ÁÔÆæ had 13 named Fulbright semifinalists and five of those have now been named finalists, joining a long list which began in 2015:
91ÁÔÆæ students’ capacity for global leadership, honed here at 91ÁÔÆæ, continues to open doors for great opportunities like the Fulbright.
Dr. Anastasia Lin
91ÁÔÆæ's assistant vice president for academic affairs and director of the nationally competitive scholarships office
- Anna Caitlyn Anderson, a senior pursuing a degree in political science with a concentration in pre-law, will teach English in Spain.
- Ashlynn Nash, a spring 2020 graduate with a degree in music education, will teach English in Taiwan.
- Kirsten Pickelsimer, a spring 2022 graduate with a degree in modern languages with a concentration in Russian language and literature, will teach English in Moldova.
- Roderick Selman, a spring 2021 graduate with a degree in modern languages with a concentration in Arabic language and literature, will teach English in Israel.
- Colin Tredway, a summer 2020 graduate with a degree in history, will teach English in Germany.
To apply for an HIA fellowship, an individual undergoes a rigorous process including multiple essays, a short video, and a video interview.
"I am proud of Colin’s ability to ensure that both opportunities will work together. His success is underwritten by his resilience, persistence, and logistical skills," Dr. Victoria Hightower, NCS assistant director and professor of history, said.
Anderson said the Fulbright process was daunting but well worth the time and effort. The writing process began with an eight-week boot camp that started in the middle of summer and ran until application submission in October.
"It can be very daunting. It can be time-consuming. It can be nerve-wracking," Anderson said. “However, at the end of the day, it is an incredibly rewarding experience whether or not you make it as a semifinalist, a finalist, or even an alternate."
Nash said she applied out of curiosity about the Taiwanese system of education.
"In the last 10 years there has been huge growth in the number of people attending higher education," Nash said. "This made me wonder how their education system differs from ours and what is contributing to this educational growth. I thought, 'What better way to find out than to be a part of a Taiwanese classroom?'"