Record number of students offered Fulbright awards for 2013-14

Twelve University of Colorado Boulder students have been offered Fulbright grants to pursue teaching, research and graduate studies abroad during the 2013-14 academic year, an all-time record for CU-Boulder.

Their proposed subjects range from studying robotic colonoscopy equipment to determining the accuracy of wind measurements near wind turbines. Other proposals include research on the changing state of Himalayan glacial lakes, tourism between China and Taiwan after decades of tension, clean energy development in Chile and whether the Royle’s pika in India is a climate change indicator.

Three of the students have been offered grants to teach English through the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship program.

“The long legacy of participation by our students and alumni in Fulbright and other international research and teaching programs is a significant source of pride for CU-Boulder,” said CU-Boulder Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano. “Not only do our fine participants bring prestige to CU-Boulder, but they also bring social, scholarly and scientific advancement to the world.”

The 2013 CU-Boulder students who have received Fulbright offers and their destination countries are: Ulyana Horodyskyj, Nepal; Renee Payne, Brazil; Elise Pizzi, China; Sean Planchard, Spain; Ian Rowen, Taiwan; Amelia Schubert, China; Eric Simley, Denmark; Levin Sliker, Italy; Marin Toscano, China; Andrea Watson, Chile; Claire Waugh, Spain; and Jennifer Wilkening, India.

Also, five CU-Boulder students were selected to be alternate candidates and could have an opportunity to be awarded a grant if any of the principal candidates decline, or if additional Fulbright funds become available.

A total of 141 CU-Boulder students have received Fulbright grant notifications since 1978, including this year’s recipients, according to CU-Boulder’s Office of International Education.

“The Fulbright program was founded to increase mutual understanding and enhance cross-cultural relations,” said Larry Bell, executive director of CU-Boulder’s Office of International Education. “This year’s group will continue the outstanding tradition of CU-Boulder students fostering international development as fine representatives of our campus, state and country among communities across the globe.”

Fulbright students are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields. The 67-year-old program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, operates in more than 155 countries and currently awards about 8,000 grants annually to U.S. students, foreign students, U.S. scholars, visiting scholars, teachers and professionals.

Two of this year’s students also have been offered Whitaker International Program grants. The prestigious Whitaker program awards emerging leaders in biomedical engineering with funding for overseas research.

One of this year’s students also has been offered the highly competitive David L. Boren Fellowship. The Boren scholarship supports undergraduate and graduate students who are focused on languages, academic fields and geographic areas that are critical to U.S. interests and underrepresented in international study.

Recipients of multiple offers from the Fulbright, Whitaker or Boren programs are required to choose one.

Students interested in applying for the Fulbright program should visit http://www.colorado.edu/oie/finances-scholarships-and-fellowships/us-student-fulbright-opportunities. The CU-Boulder Fulbright application deadline for 2014-15 grants is Sept. 9, 2013. For more information on graduate student opportunities abroad including the Fulbright program visit http://www.colorado.edu/oie/global-cu/graduate-student-opportunities-abroad.