Two Luther College students named Fulbright Scholars

Two Luther College students have been named Fulbright Scholars.

Patrick Larson of Decorah and Betsy Fawcett of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, have been selected by the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board to receive Fulbright awards for the 2017-18 academic year.

Larson will use the scholarship to pay expenses for being a teaching assistant in Bulgaria, while Fawcett will use the scholarship to pay expenses for being a teaching assistant in the Ukraine.

Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement as well as record of service and demonstrated leadership in their respective fields.

The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program, an element of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, fosters mutual understanding between the people of the United States and those of other countries by providing a native English speaker in their schools.

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

Larson will graduate from Luther in May with a degree in economics.  A January Term study abroad experience in Vietnam sparked Larson's interest in how economic and political institutions can be used to serve the common good. After his Fulbright experience, Larson plans to attend graduate school and pursue a career in public policy, focusing on global and national affairs and working with marginalized groups of people.

Fawcett will graduate from Luther in May with a degree in political science and psychology.  After her Fulbright experience, she plans to attend graduate school in international relations or peace studies to prepare for a position with an embassy or non-governmental organization.