Three Luther College students receive Fulbright Awards

Many colleges consider themselves fortunate if one of their students receives a Fulbright Scholarship.  Luther College is announcing that three of its graduates have just been selected for the prestigious fellowships.

The Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board has selected Luther students Kirsten Jacobson, class of 2012; Kimberly Rooney, class of 2014; and Becca Rudquist, class of 2014, to receive Fulbright awards for the 2014-15 academic year.

The highly competitive Fulbright foreign scholarship award provides funds for a year's educational experience abroad, including travel, health insurance and a monthly stipend to cover living expenses.

Jacobson, from Platteville, Wisconsin, graduated from Luther in 2012 with a degree in history and French, and will serve as an English teaching assistant in Vietnam.  As a history teacher, Jacobson is deeply curious about Vietnam's unique history and interactions with the U. S. and France.

Rooney, from Holmen, Wisconsin, graduated from Luther in January 2014 with a degree in French and Africana studies, and will serve as an English teaching assistant in Senegal.  She intends to volunteer and observe in Senegalese school systems, gaining knowledge from their educators and students about Senegalese philosophies while sharing her own cultural and international experiences.

Rudquist, from Deer River, Minnesota, will graduate from Luther in May 2014. She is majoring in English and will serve as an English teaching assistant in Malaysia.  "I am looking for an immersive, day-to-day living experience in a multi-layered culture," she said.

The Fulbright Foreign Scholarship is sponsored by the U.S. State Department and is the largest U.S. international exchange program.  The program, introduced to Congress by Senator J. William Fulbright, was established in 1946 in order to foster leadership, learning and empathy between cultures. Since its inception, more than 325,000 Fulbrighters have participated in the program.  Fulbright scholars have been awarded 53 Nobel Prizes and 80 Pulitzer Prizes.