13 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign students and recent graduates, including an alumna from the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology, were offered Fulbright grants to pursue international education, research and teaching experiences around the globe this coming year. Another six Illinois students were named Fulbright alternates.
11 of the students have accepted grants from the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, which builds international relationships to help solve global challenges. This flagship international educational exchange program of the U.S. government awards grants to students based on their academic and professional achievement, as well as their ambassadorial skills and leadership potential. The Fulbright student program will fund approximately 2,100 U.S. citizens to live abroad for the 2023-24 academic year.
“A full one-third of University of Illinois Fulbright applicants were offered grants this year,” said David Schug, director of the National and International Scholarships Program at Illinois. “This is the university’s highest success rate in at least the past 20 years. This fall will find Illini representing the university on five different continents.”
Nicole Park is planning to teach in Taiwan. She graduated in May with degrees in both molecular and cellular biology and food science and human nutrition. A participant in the Campus Honors Program, she is also a James Scholar. Park attended Prospect High School in Arlington Heights, Illinois. She plans to become a physician and believes this experience will help her enhance her communication skills. She worked as a resident assistant and a pre-health advisor at the U. of I.
Photo of Nicole Park by Chelsea Nwanah.
