- Two Christ College Students Receive Fulbright Award
The prestigious Fulbright award was given two Christ College students who will continue their international studies while making a contribution to the cultures of South Africa and Nepal.
This award allows the selected recent graduates to use their skills within a new environment and broaden their experiences.
Laurie Kenyon, chemistry and international service major, has been offered a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship. She will be teaching in an upper-level secondary school in South Africa, while researching and working within her internship.
“I am hoping to work with an international development agency,” Kenyon said.
Kenyon never imagined that her hope would soon become a reality after her graduation this month.
“I feel both incredibly excited and humbled by this amazing opportunity,” Kenyon said. “Since studying in South Africa and Namibia in the fall of 2010, I’ve wanted to go back and keep learning and experiencing the culture and people of southern Africa.”
Math major Krista Schaefer will be traveling to Nepal to begin her Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship. She hopes to be placed at a rural school in Nepal after her month-long orientation.
“I am looking forward to working not only with (the Nepal English Language Teachers’ Association) but also with all the teachers in the school to promote spoken English and encourage a friendly environment,” Schaefer said. “By working with teachers, I can develop the English curriculum to impact students after my year is over.”
Schaefer said she has had many great experiences throughout her years at Valpo, especially with the help of her history professor and father, Chuck Schaefer.
“Professor Schaefer was extremely helpful,” Krista Schaefer said. “Not only is he always excited about the opportunities I’ve had in college and plans for after, but he is the greatest dad because of the role model that he has been.”
Approximately 1,500 American students are offered Fulbright grants annually to study, teach English, and conduct research in more than 110 countries throughout the world each summer. The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.
