Florida Southern College is proud to be included on the list of U.S. colleges and universities that produced the most Fulbright U.S. Students in 2019-2020. This marks the second consecutive year that FSC has been recognized as one of the top producing institutions for the Fulbright Program, the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program.
Three Florida Southern students were awarded Fulbright grants in April 2019, exemplifying the College’s tradition of academic excellence. As recipients of English Teaching Assistant Awards, all three students – Abby Eskridge ’18, Olivia Panda ’19, and Kate Vita ’19 – were provided with opportunities to teach in host communities in Europe during the 2019-2020 academic year. Through their connection with the Fulbright Program, grantees also serve as citizen ambassadors for the United States.
“It is a tremendous honor to be included in the distinguished list of top Fulbright producers for the second year in a row,” said Dr. Brad E. Hollingshead, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at FSC. “We work hard every day to prepare students to make a positive and consequential impact on the world, and I am so proud when I see this kind of accomplishment because it tells me that faculty and students are living our mission, that they are pursuing academic excellence with purpose and determination. Such a distinction gives us a chance to celebrate not just the individuals who have set themselves apart, but also the community of learners who come together to nurture this kind of success in the first place.”
Among the four Fulbrighters who led to FSC’s inclusion on this prestigious list last year, Elise Barnes ’18 and Leyna Stemle ’18 received Study/Research Awards, and Natalie Aleman ’16 and Kylie Torres ’18 received English Teaching Assistant Awards. Torres reapplied and was renewed for the 2019-2020 academic year.
“We are delighted to see that the 2019-2020 Fulbright top producing institutions reflect the geographic and institutional diversity of higher education in the United States,” said Marie Royce, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs. “We are committed to the Fulbright Program’s goals of creating lasting professional and personal connections by sending passionate and accomplished U.S. students of all backgrounds to study, research, or teach English in communities throughout the world.”
The Fulbright Program was created in 1946 to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. More than 2,200 U.S. students and an additional 900-plus faculty and administrators are awarded Fulbright grants annually. The global network of Fulbrighters fosters mutual understanding between the U.S. and partner nations, advances knowledge across communities, and improves lives around the globe.
For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit eca.state.gov/fulbright.