Eight Columbia College students and an alumna win Fulbright U.S. student grants

Eight Columbia College students and an alumna have received 2017-2018 Fulbright U.S. Student grants, which offer funding for students and young professionals to undertake individually-designed international research and study projects or primary and secondary school teaching in English-language classrooms.

“We are very pleased that our students continue to find success within the U.S. Fulbright Student Program, which is indicative of Columbia’s commitment to global education,” said Scott Carpenter, associate dean of global education and fellowships.

One of these students, Martin Ridge CC'17, a history major, has received a prestigious UK Partnership Award, an award given to approximately 40 American students each year, which enables him to study towards a degree at Queen Mary University of London. Ridge will study cultural and intellectual history.

Four students have received Fulbright awards to teach English around the world. Miranda Arakelian CC’17, a sociology major with a German literature and cultural history concentration, will be teaching in Germany; Daniel Bergerson CC’17, a history major with a special concentration in educational studies, will be teaching in Mexico; Brooke Robbins CC’17, an American Studies major, will be teaching in Taiwan; and Eliana Kanefield CC’17, a Hispanic studies major, will be teaching in Argentina.

Two students will be doing research in China. Vivian Chen CC’17, a biology major with a visual arts concentration, will be studying public health; and Molly Engel CC’17, a sustainable development major with a women’s and gender studies concentration, will be studying economic development. Rebecca Pawel CC’99, TC’00, GSAS’16, currently working towards her Ph.D. in English and comparative literature at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, will be conducting research in Spain.

Catalina Piccato CC’17, a history and economics major, will be doing an binanational business internship in economics in Mexico.

The Fulbright program awards approximately 1,900 grants annually in all fields of study and operates in more than 140 countries worldwide. Fulbright U.S. Student Program alumni populate a range of professions and include ambassadors, members of Congress, judges, heads of corporations, university presidents, journalists, artists, professors and teachers.

During their grant periods, Fulbrighters meet, work, live with and learn from the people of their host country, sharing daily experiences and thereby promoting mutual understanding.

“Fulbright’s mission to promote mutual understanding between peoples of the world has never felt more relevant. These students are poised to contribute their energy and talents to this mission. At the same time, they are also deepening their areas of academic inquiry and their professional development in a variety of exciting ways,” Carpenter added. “We could not be more proud of this year’s Fulbrighters.”

NOTE: This story was updated on May 25, 2017.