Ten Students Named Semi-Finalists in Fulbright U.S. Student Scholarship Program

Spencer Hazeslip (BA ’23), a current Fulbrighter teaching English in Kazakhstan, with some of his students.

Ten U of A undergraduate and graduate students have been chosen as semi-finalists for the Fulbright U.S. Student Scholarship Program at the United States level. 

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers two primary awards: the English Teaching Assistantship, which allows students to work as assistants to English teachers across the globe, and the Study/Research Award, which allows students to pursue graduate study or independent research at international institutions. 

Before being considered at the international country level, applicants must first be selected by the U.S. committee.

“To have 10 University of Arkansas students selected by the Fulbright Program’s U.S. selection committee for recognition as semi-finalists is a tribute to the amazing students we have and to the faculty who support them,” said Terry Martin, provost and executive vice chancellor of academic affairs. “International study and teaching can be an unforgettable, life-shaping experience. Congratulations to all and good luck in moving on to the next step in the process.”

The 2025-26 competition cycle will open in April. U of A students who are interested in applying for the Fulbright Scholarship should contact Emily Wright, Fulbright Program Adviser for the U of A, at awards@uark.edu.   

The 10 U of A students were selected from more than 9,800 applicants. If selected as finalists at the country level, their awards will begin in the fall of 2024 and last for an academic year. The countries these semi-finalists are applying to include Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, India, Laos, South Korea, Spain and Thailand.

The 10 semi-finalists include:

• Ralph Bray – concurrent M.B.A (U of A) and M.P.S. (U of A Clinton School of Public Service) – Study/Research Award
• Katherine Chamberlin – senior, honors international business – English Teaching Assistant 
• Olivia Elshoff – senior, honors French and sociology – English Teaching Assistant
• Rylie Ford – senior, honors social studies education and history – English Teaching Assistant
• Caitlyn Goodman – B.S. in international business, ’18, summa cum laude – Study/Research Award
• Grace Martin – senior, honors chemical engineering and food science – English Teaching Assistant
• Sherjeel Naeem – senior, honors anthropology and biology – English Teaching Assistant 
• Aryan Prabhudesai – senior, honors mathematics – English Teaching Assistant 
• Rebekah Smith – B.A. in German and history, ’23 – English Teaching Assistant
• Gabrielle Vatthanatham – M.A. student in French – English Teaching Assistant

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.

The primary source of funding for the Fulbright Program is an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Participating governments, host institutions, corporations and foundations in foreign countries and in the United States also provide direct and indirect support. Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields. The program operates in over 160 countries worldwide. 

More that 90 U of A students and alumni have received Fulbright U.S. Student Awards in countries around the world, including Belgium, Botswana, Mexico and South Korea. Students or alumni interested in learning more about the program should reach out to the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards at awards@uark.edu or 479-575-8673.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas’ flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.

This story also appeared in the University of Arkansas News publication.