Far-flung Fulbrights

GAMBIER, Ohio (May 24, 2006) Eleven students, eight countries, four continents: A record number of Kenyon students have won Fulbright fellowships, taking them to varied destinations across the globe in 2006-07. Kenyon's winners, chosen by the Fulbright foundation, will spend a year teaching or pursuing research in Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America.

Four graduating seniors have been awarded fellowships to undertake research projects abroad:

Maeba Jonas will conduct research on Theravada nuns in Nepal. A resident of Alexandria, Virginia, Jonas was a religious studies major with a concentration in women's and gender studies.

Rachel Ort, a political science major from Orland, Pennsylvania, will research the impact of NGOs (non-governmental organizations) on democracy in Botswana.

Regina Rosi will travel to Mexico to study the implications of bilingual, intercultural education in Yucatán. A resident of Grayling, Michigan, Rosi double-majored in international studies and Spanish, with a minor in anthropology.

Carolyn Hayes Wong, of Atlanta, Georgia, will conduct research in China on the forces affecting maternal education about hepatitis B. She majored in international studies, with a concentration in environmental studies.

In addition, five seniors and two recent graduates have been awarded grants to teach English as a foreign language overseas:

Kathleen Barney, of Atlanta, Georgia, will teach in South Korea. She majored in American studies, with a minor in studio art.

Seth Bernstein, a 2005 graduate from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, will teach in Russia. He majored in international studies and modern languages and literatures.

Karly Burke, a biochemistry major from Woodbury, Minnesota, won an award to teach English in South Korea. Also the winner of a George J. Mitchell Scholarship, which supports one year of graduate study in Ireland, Burke has declined the Fulbright and accepted the Mitchell.

Lara Gallant, a double major in psychology and modern languages and literatures from Charlotte, North Carolina, will teach English in Germany.

Kurt Hollender, a modern languages and literatures major from Berea, Ohio, will teach English in Germany.

Brian McAllester, a 2004 graduate from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, will launch a teaching assistantship program in Bulgaria.

Megan Walker, a double major in German and religious studies from Montrose, Colorado, will teach English in Germany.

A twelfth student, Amy Ream, has been certified as an alternate to teach English in South Korea. Alternates receive a grant if a principal candidate declines the offer of a grant or if funds become available for additional grants. Ream, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, majored in American studies with a minor in anthropology.

Last year, six Kenyon students won Fulbrights, placing Kenyon high on the list of liberal-arts colleges considered to be top producers of Fulbright fellows.

Established in 1946, the Fulbright program aims to increase mutual understanding between the peoples of the United States and other countries, through the exchange of persons, knowledge, and skills.

Hayes Wong	Maeba Jonas	Rachel Ort
Kurt Hollender	Megan Walker	Karly Burke
Kathleen Barney	Regina Rosi	Lara Gallant