When autocomplete options are available, use up and down arrows to review and enter to select.
Apply Give

Fulbright program has most successful year with record number of grant recipients

Fulbright semifinalists Alyssa Stacey (left) and Alex Donley (right) with Professor Edna Udobong, Fulbright Program Advisor and Scholar Liaison

The Liberty University Fulbright U.S. Student Program has completed the most successful period in the program’s history as five students were named Fulbright finalists during the 2020-21 grant cycle.

Six semifinalists were named earlier this year and of those students, five were selected as finalists — four receiving English Teaching Assistant (ETA) grants and one being selected for a research scholarship. This is the highest number of semifinalists and finalists since Liberty’s program began in 2011.

Liberty senior Alyssa Stacey was awarded an ETA to teach English in South Korea, senior Melissa Hosek in Taiwan, and senior Alex Donley in Malaysia. Graduate student Connor Schonta will be teaching in Slovak Republic.

Luis Quijano, Liberty’s first-ever student recipient of the Fulbright Research/Study grant, will pursue his Ph.D. at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Australia.

Graduate student Connor Schonta will be teaching in Slovak Republic

“This has been a year of good news for Liberty University Fulbright and our students,” said Professor Edna Udobong, Fulbright Program Advisor and Scholar Liaison. “These successes are a testament to the hard work of the students and the Liberty University Fulbright Committee members who worked with them throughout the process.”

Donley, an English major with a minor in linguistics, said he is thankful for the guidance and support received during the rigorous application process.

Senior Melissa Hosek will use her ETA grant in Taiwan.

“I could not have gone through this process without the resources and support of the Liberty University faculty,” Donley said. “I’m honored to be among such an excellent group of educators and hope to represent Liberty’s efforts while I am overseas.”

In addition to the students, three faculty members have also been awarded Fulbright grants this year, another sign of success for Liberty’s program. Dr. Andrew Behnke, assistant professor at Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine, received a grant through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program to advance medical education in Moldova; Dr. Angela Ford, adjunct professor at the School of Education, was awarded a grant to conduct research at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia; and Dr. Lucinda Spaulding, professor and chair of special education at the School of Education, received a Fulbright Specialist Program grant to work with education officials in Uzbekistan.

The Fulbright program at Liberty University is the gateway to promoting the university’s Christ-centered mission around the globe. The program is administered through the dean’s office in the Helms School of Government and is supervised by the Office of the Provost.

Luis Quijano will pursue his Ph.D. at Queensland University of Technology in Australia.

“We congratulate all of these finalists. These successes are a testament to the hard work of our students and the Liberty University Fulbright Committee members who worked with them throughout the process,” said Provost Dr. Scott Hicks.

During the 2018-19 Fulbright grant cycle, five students were named as semifinalists and two went on to receive an ETA grant: Sara Heist (’17) and Katarina Bouton (’17).

“We could not be prouder of the growth we have seen with the Fulbright program in the last year,” said Robert Hurt, dean of the Helms School of Government. “Thanks in large measure to Professor Udobong’s and the Fulbright Committee’s leadership and hard work, we have seen great success in a program that I think speaks directly to Liberty University’s mission in taking the light from our mountain and shining it for good across the world. It is our hope and prayer that this program will continue to flourish and attract the highest quality applicants from our university.”

Application for the 2021-22 grant cycle is now open. To learn more, visit Liberty’s Fulbright website or contact Edna Udobong at eudobong3@liberty.edu.

Chat Live Chat Live Request Info Request Info Apply Now Apply Now Visit Liberty Visit Liberty