Seven University of Nebraska–Lincoln students have earned Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards for the 2022-23 academic year. Another student was named an alternate, and three were named semifinalists.
The Fulbright Program, the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program, is supported by an annual appropriation made by Congress to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, as well as partner countries around the world.
Since 1946, the Fulbright program has provided more than 400,000 participants from more than 160 countries the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research; exchange ideas; and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. Fulbright recipients are selected in an open, merit-based competition that considers leadership potential, academic and/or professional achievement and record of service.
Six Nebraska students were offered English Teaching Assistant placements to support English language classroom instruction and serve as cultural ambassadors for the United States. In addition, student Laura Jensen was offered a grant unique to Austria, the Community-Based Combined Award, which involves English teaching, university coursework and nonprofit volunteer work in the host community.
Following is a list of students who were offered Fulbright awards, organized by hometown, with their academic major(s), country where they will teach and/or study and Fulbright grant type.
Nebraska
- Hastings: Spencer Tessman, German and Spanish, Germany, English Teaching Assistant
- La Vista: Joanna Walton, German, Germany, English Teaching Assistant
- Lincoln: Laura Jensen, secondary English (7-12) and German, Austria, Community-Based Combined Award; Adrian Pilkington, software engineering and French, France, English Teaching Assistant
- Ogallala: Celie Knudsen, English (master’s program), Spain, English Teaching Assistant
- West Point: Leigh Jahnke, biological sciences and Spanish, Spain, English Teaching Assistant
Elsewhere
- Des Moines, Iowa: Sarah Brady, music and microbiology, Poland, English Teaching Assistant
Alumnus Gregory Tracey of Omaha, who studied global studies and economics, was named an alternate for an English Teaching Assistantship in Uzbekistan.
Additionally, three Husker students and recent alumni were recommended to the host countries for funding consideration and recognized by the U.S. National Screening Committee as semifinalists. They are:
Nebraska
- Herman: Luci Anderson, history, medieval and Renaissance studies, and classics and religious studies, Iceland, Study/Research
- Hickman: Elizabeth (Ellie) Woody, Spanish and political science, Spain, English Teaching Assistant
- Omaha: Andrew Neill, geography and global studies, Azerbaijan, English Teaching Assistant
At Nebraska, the Office of National and International Fellowships advises and nominates undergraduate candidates for 30 supported scholarships and fellowships. To learn more, students and campus community members may contact Courtney Santos, director of national and international fellowships, at courtney.santos@unl.edu.
