TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Twelve University of Alabama students were chosen as Fulbright Student Award Winners for 2019–2020, and four UA students were selected as alternates.
“Congratulations to UA’s 2019–2020 Fulbright winners and alternates,” said Dr. Teresa E. Wise, associate provost for international education and global outreach. “During their year abroad, these leaders of tomorrow are putting into action the diverse and intercultural experiences and education that UA provides.”
The highly competitive U.S. Student Fulbright Program provides grants for individually designed study and research projects or for English-teaching assistantships to 160 countries. More than 10,000 applicants compete for approximately 2,100 awards each year. In February, for the third time in four years, The University of Alabama was recognized as a Top Producing Institution for Fulbright U.S. Students.
“These students have emerged from the national Fulbright competition as the best in the nation,” said Dr. Beverly Hawk, UA Fulbright program adviser and director of global and community engagement in the Center for Community-Based Partnerships “Through their individual community engagement activities overseas, these Fulbright winners will develop lasting international ties for Alabama and the USA.”
Twelve UA graduates received Fulbright Awards for the 2019–2020 academic year:
Tommy P. Brazie of Huntsville, a 2019 graduate in international studies and German language and literature with a minor in French and the certificate in global studies, was chosen to teach in Germany.
Amanda Filardo of Prospect, Kentucky, a 2019 Honors College graduate in international studies with minors in Russian and Italian and the certificate in global studies, was chosen to teach in Kazakhstan.
Courtney Geary of Somerset, Pennsylvania, a University Fellow in the Honors College, a Blackburn Fellow, a 2019 graduate of New College majoring in interdisciplinary studies with minors in international studies and educational studies, and language competency in Arabic was chosen to teach in Jordan.
Cole Jones of Nashville, Tennessee, a University Fellow in the Honors College and a 2019 graduate in management information systems with a minor in social innovation and leadership, was chosen to teach in Malaysia.
Ciara Malaugh of Madison, a member of the Honors College, a 2017 graduate in political science and a Truman Scholar, was chosen to teach in Romania.
Larry Monocello of Erie, Pennsylvania, who holds a bachelor’s in anthropology (2015) from Case Western Reserve University and a master’s in biocultural medical anthropology (2017) from UA with language study in Korean, was chosen to conduct research about Male Body Ideals and Mental Health among Men in South Korea.
Amica Rapadas of Homewood, a member of the Honors College and a 2019 graduate in international studies and geography with a minor in Chinese and the certificate in global studies, was chosen to teach in Taiwan.
Pamela Grace Turner of Fairhope, a member of the Honors College and a 2018 graduate in public relations and international studies with a minor in Spanish, was chosen to teach in Colombia.
Sophia Warner of Birmingham, a Blackburn Fellow and a 2019 graduate in international studies with minors in German, Russian and liberal arts through the Blount Scholars Program, was chosen to teach in Germany.
Samantha Wetzel of Hudson, Illinois, a 2019 graduate in public relations and foreign languages and literature with a concentration in German, was chosen to teach in Germany.
Ellery Wiemer of Lombard, Illinois, a 2019 graduate in marketing with a concentration in global business, a minor in German and the certificate in global studies, was chosen to teach in Germany.
Madeline Willoughby of Houston, a 2019 graduate in elementary education with classroom leadership expertise and international English teaching experience, was chosen to teach in Malaysia.
Four UA graduates were selected as alternates in the Fulbright competition. Alternates may be brought forward to serve at any time should winners be unable to travel to the designated country, or if additional funds become available. The alternates are:
Julia Coursey of Washington, D.C., who holds a BA in liberal arts from St. John’s College and is a UA graduate student in creative writing, to conduct research in Hungary.
Jennifer Reaves of Muscle Shoals, a member of the Honors College and a 2019 graduate in finance, to teach in Malaysia.
Claire Stebbins of Miamisburg, Ohio, a University Fellow in the Honors College and a 2019 graduate in journalism and political science with minors in educational studies and social innovation and leadership, to teach in The Netherlands.
Olivia Turner of Cumming, Georgia, a member of the Honors College and a 2019 graduate in Spanish and art history with a minor in English, to teach in Argentina.
Students with an interest in next year’s competition should contact Fulbright coordinator Megan Wagner of the Capstone International Center, 135 B.B. Comer Hall, cic@ua.edu, or Fulbright advisers Dr. Matthew Feminella of modern languages and classics, 263B B.B. Comer Hall, mfeminella@ua.edu; or Dr. Beverly Hawk of the UA Center for Community-Based Partnerships, 1114 Capital Hall, beverly.hawk@ua.edu.