Ohio University was one of the top producers of student and faculty Fulbright winners in the country last year, and first in Ohio in both categories.
Five OU faculty members won Fulbrights and 12 students ' of 22 who applied ' came away with awards. This student ratio gave OU the highest success rate in the country at 54.5 percent.
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program funds projects in the creative or performing arts, or teaching English as a foreign language in 140 participating countries. The Fulbright Scholar Program, which supports faculty work abroad, provides funding for professors to research and lecture around the world.
OU has an office that deals specifically with Fulbright applicants. Elizabeth Clodfelter, director of U.S. Fulbright Programs at OU, said this was OU's best year for student winners, and the best in 20 years for faculty.
(The students) earned an impressive
exciting fantastic percentage Clodfelter said.
Student applicants are required to go through Clodfelter's office to apply for the awards. They also interview on campus with Clodfelter and some faculty members.
Tim Anderson, geography department chairman and a former student Fulbright winner, said he has sat on interview committees the past five or six years.
I think the success we've had here at OU can partly be attributed to (Clodfelter) and partly can be attributed to the fact that we have great students who do great work and have a lot of international ties
Anderson said.
Jennifer Hayes, a 2008 graduate, is teaching English in Korea. She described the application process as stressful at times
but worth it.
I think the application process in and of itself is an incredibly valuable experience that pushes you to really evaluate and then articulate your goals
Hayes said. It also really makes you think about what your role is as a global citizen today.
Dan McBrayer, a master's student, heads to eastern Europe in December. McBrayer is studying conflict resolution in Georgia. He said the application process wasn't too difficult.
It's a lot of getting ideas down very succinctly. G? It's not as daunting as people make it out to be
he said.
Kim Vandegrift, another 2008 graduate, said some of her success came from her proposal, but she credits Clodfelter and OU faculty with part of her achievement.
It was a lot of work for me
but faculty members work equally as hard in support of their students' goals
Vandegrift said.-
she said. They're just under control.
