Tyler Hayes, a Duke Fulbright scholar for 2012-13, stands in the Swiss mountains.
For the 11th straight year, Duke University is one of the top producers of U.S. Fulbright Scholars, according to the U.S. Department of State.
The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program. The success of the top-producing institutions is highlighted in The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Seventeen Duke students were awarded Fulbright placements for 2014-15, one more than the 16 Duke students who earned Fulbright awards for 2013-14.
“To have the State Department recognize Duke once again as a top producer of Fulbright students is wonderful confirmation of the great work Duke students are doing," said David Baker, Duke's Fulbright program adviser. "We are proud that Duke applicants showcase a breadth of academic, civic, and international interests."
Baker administers the Fulbright competition at Duke through the Office of Undergraduate Scholars and Fellows.
“It is unsurprising that Duke consistently produces a tremendous number of Fulbright scholars,” said Tyler Hayes, a 2012 Duke alumnus and 2012-13 Fulbright Scholar. During his Fulbright year Hayes conducted research in Dr. Yann Barrandon’s Laboratory of Stem Cell Dynamics at l’École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lusuanne, Switzerland.
“The Fulbright is a special way for recent graduates to develop their own in-depth research project in collaboration with leading experts from nearly anywhere in the world," Hayes said. "The opportunities available at Duke to participate in international exchange and inquiry, and both scientific and humanities-based research, fosters a student body with a multidisciplinary focus -- exactly what the Fulbright program looks for in its applicants."
More than 1,800U.S. students, artists and young professionals in a variety of fields have been offered Fulbright Program grants to study, teach English and conduct research in more than 140 countries throughout the world this academic year. Lists of Fulbright recipients are available at: www.fulbrightonline.org/us.
The Fulbright Scholarship application process is open to Duke seniors, recently graduated alumni and graduate students. The program is designed to facilitate cultural exchange and increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and those of other countries. For more details on applying, attend one of the upcoming information sessions, March 25 and 26.
The following are the names, Duke status, fields of study and countries of study of this year's 17 Duke Fulbright scholars:
- Nina Arutyunyan (graduate student), history, Russia.
- Kemen Austin (graduate student), environmental studies, Indonesia.
- Trenita Childers (graduate student), sociology, Dominican Republic.
- Emma Fridel (2014 graduate), English teaching assistant, Taiwan.
- Stephanie Friede (graduate student), anthropology, Mexico.
- Richard Gawne (graduate student), biology, Denmark.
- Maia Hutt (2014 graduate), English teaching assistant, Georgia.
- Richard Lambert (graduate student), language and literature, Austria.
- Erika Lampert (2014 graduate), medical sciences, Spain.
- Jessica Lie (2013 graduate), English teaching assistant, South Korea.
- Patrick Oathout (2014 graduate), English teaching assistant, Greece.
- Michael Pelehach (2010 graduate), English teaching assistant, Bulgaria.
- Tricia Ross (graduate student), history, Germany.
- Andrew Ruoss (graduate student), history, Netherlands.
- Brian Smithson (graduate student), anthropology, Benin.
- Connor Southard (2012 graduate), creative writing, Tanzania.
- Olivia Wasteneys (2014 graduate), English teaching assistant, Turkey.