Seven from OSU selected for 2018-19 Fulbright US Student Program

(Corvallis, OR, May 31, 2018--updated July 10, 2018)

Oregon State University is pleased to announce that seven students have been selected for the 2018-19 Fulbright U.S. Student Program by the U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Additionally, three OSU students are alternates for the program.

Hunter Briggs is a graduating senior and Ford Family Scholar from Eugene majoring in Ethnic Studies. For his Fulbright year, Hunter will pursue an MSc in Criminology in Practice at the University of Leicester. Upon return to the U.S., Hunter plans to pursue a joint J.D./Ph.D degree program in preparation for future nonprofit and advocacy work with the goal to incorporate arts-based programming into prison reform.

Dang Duong is a graduating senior in Microbiology (pre-med) and a Fulbright ETA to Kazakhstan. Dang will engage with students in and out of the classroom to share the American language and culture, and looks forward to celebrating Kazakh holidays.

Niki Hobbs is a senior who will graduate summa cum laude in June with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health. While teaching in Germany, she also hopes to coordinate with local Scout and Girl Guide troops to work on badges and volunteer projects together.

Ellen Lamont is a PhD student in Geology. During her Fulbright year, she will collaborate with the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology to sample and map fault exposures in the sub-Himalayan foothills of India in order to increase knowledge of current hazards. Ellen will also reach out to local youth groups to host STEM workshops and participate in networking and mentorship events hosted by the Indian Academy of Sciences and Women in Science and Engineering.

Kai Parker is a doctoral student in Civil Engineering. He will collaborate with one of Chile's foremost tsunami experts at the Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María to perform a probabilistic tsunami hazard assessment to help fill the knowledge gap around coastal vulnerability.  Kai will also engage with his local community through rock climbing and other outdoor activities. Upon return to the U.S., Kai plans to seek a university teaching position while continuing to research coastal hazards and provide a scientific resource for building community resilience.

Traben Pleasant is a PhD student in Applied Anthropology. Traben, an honored Veteran of the US Marines, will travel to Bocas del Toro, Panama with his family in the fall to conduct research to identify barriers to post-secondary education for black and indigenous youth. He will also engage in the local community by teaching English and basic computer skills.

Grace D’Angelo Grace is a 2017 OSU graduate with an honors bachelor of science in Microbiology and minors in Chemistry and Music. During her Fulbright year, she will will work toward a Master's of Science (MSc) in Marine Microbiology in a joint program of the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology (MPI-MM), the University of Bremen (UniB), the Alfred Wegener Institute - Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), and the Jacobs University Bremen (JUB). An accomplished musician, Grace will also seek opportunities to continue her growth as a flautist by studying and performing with German peers.   

These students are among over 1,900 U.S. citizens who will study, conduct research, and teach abroad for the 2018-2019 academic year through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement as well as record of service and leadership potential in their respective fields.

In addition to these honors, three Oregon State students are current alternates for Fulbright awards and may still be promoted: Trisha Chau for Imperial College in the United Kingdom, Omar Sheikh for Canada, and Christina Welch for Spain.

Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 380,000 participants with the opportunity to exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. Over 1,900 U.S. students, artists, and early career professionals in more than 100 different fields of study are offered Fulbright Program grants to study, teach English, and conduct research annually in over 140 countries  throughout the world. The primary source of funding for the Fulbright Program is an annual appropriation by the United States Congress to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations in foreign countries and in the United States also provide direct and indirect support. In the United States, the Institute of International Education supports the implementation of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program on behalf of the U.S. Department of State, including conducting an annual competition for the scholarships.

For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit http://eca.state.gov/fulbright. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is administered at Oregon State University through LeAnn Adam, OSU National and Global Scholarships Advising Coordinator. For more information about applying for Fulbright or other national and international scholarships and fellowships, please contact LeAnn at [email protected] and visit: http://topscholars.oregonstate.edu