March 24, 2021
The UW is a Fulbright top producer for the 2020-21 school year
The University of Washington made the Chronicle of Higher Education’s list of the top Fulbright producing institutions. The UW has received this application eight out of the past ten years. Almost 600 U.S. higher-education institutions participate in the Fulbright program and the program’s participants work in more than 140 countries around the world.
Twenty-four UW students received Fulbright awards for the academic year 2020-21. Of the recipients, 15 were undergraduates. Their awards cover graduate work, research and English teaching abroad. The Fulbright experience gives students the opportunity to live and work abroad, learning about their host country and developing a new community of colleagues and friends. These programs are designed to help participants gain greater understanding of others’ viewpoints and beliefs, ultimately promoting an atmosphere of openness and mutual understanding. Perspectives alumni will take with them as they pursue their future careers.
For Fulbright alumna Tammy Tarhini, the opportunity to teach English in Germany felt critical to her development as a future doctor. She explains: “In both schools, I’m the only teacher with an Arabic background, and something that has stuck with me is seeing how important it has been for my students to have a teacher they can identify with.” Tarhini sees a direct connection to her future goal of becoming a physician focusing on under-served Arabic-speaking refugee and immigrant communities, sharing that it is important for patients to have healthcare providers they connect and identify with.
Undergraduate Academic Affairs’ Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards supports undergraduate applicants through the application process. “The whole process of applying to programs like the Fulbright is exciting and courageous. The application requires applicants to articulate their goals.” Explains Assistant Director Emily Smith. “As students embark on their Fulbright grants, it’s a delight to see them turn their goals into lived experience. And, it’s inspiring to see them deepen their understanding of the work they care about and follow the evolution of their careers.”
In addition to the undergraduate recipients, nine graduate students and three UW professors also received Fulbright awards. Read more about this distinction from UW News.
About the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards
The Fulbright application process is supported by the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards (OMSFA), a UAA program. OMSFA works with faculty, staff and students to identify and support promising students in developing the skills and personal insights necessary to become strong candidates for this and other prestigious awards. The UW campus application process for students interested in Fulbright U.S. Student Programs (and other scholarships supporting graduate studies around the world) will get started this spring for 2022-23 awards. Watch for updates about OMSFA’s Global Fellowships Prep program.
About the Fulbright Program
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is the largest U.S. international exchange program offering opportunities for United States students to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, and teaching in elementary and secondary schools worldwide. Founded in 1946, the Fulbright Program will celebrate its 75th anniversary this year. The UW is proud to have had Fulbright recipients as far back as 1949.