EMU Today

YPSILANTI - The J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FSB) annually confronts the challenging responsibility of picking candidates seeking funding and the chance to enrich their educational experience through international travel.

Fulbright is an academic exchange program that offers opportunities for graduating college seniors, graduate students, and early-career professionals from all different backgrounds. The program allows participants to pursue graduate studies, research, or teach English abroad.

The program was established by U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright and is regarded as among the most esteemed scholarships globally. The program bestows roughly 2,000 grants to American applicants, meaning one in every five contenders receives an offer.

“Any international experience changes your life. This experience can open up many opportunities for your future. You will gain a wider perspective and understanding of the world and become a global citizen in that respect,” said Dr. Carla Damiano, the Fulbright coordinator for EMU, when asked about the significance of the program.

“My job is to make sure that a student is qualified and meets all of the requirements for the Fulbright,” said Damiano. Selection for the scholarship is based on multiple criteria, including academic qualifications, project feasibility, leadership abilities, adaptability, merit, available grant funds, and other factors.

A record number of five Eastern Michigan University students have been chosen as semi-finalists for the Fulbright scholarship this year. Semi-Finalists include:

Sara Plohetski, ETA Semi-Finalist: Thailand

Sara Plohetski is a student in the EMU Master’s program in curriculum and instruction. Sara sought a Fulbright because she wants to learn more about the world, but to do so through relationships with people, as opposed to reading about it from a distance. Thailand caught her attention when a friend of hers moved there. ”As a teacher looking to improve my teaching in an ESL classroom, I want to learn languages that have a completely different alphabet and structure, like Thai, to better empathize with and teach students,” said Plohetski.

Ian Cook, ETA Semi-Finalist: Spain

Ian Cook, a former Presidential Scholar now in the TESOL Master’s program, had always enjoyed language learning, so pursuing additional language education made sense to him. He first learned about the history and culture of the various regions of Spain during a brief study-abroad experience after his freshman year at EMU. “The Fulbright award provides the perfect opportunity for me to pursue my passions for language and teaching while quenching my curiosity, as I integrate with the Spanish community,” said Cook.

Olivia Ziemelis, ETA Semi-Finalist: Latvia

Olivia Ziemelis, a current Presidential Scholar, will graduate in winter of 2023 with highest, departmental, and university honors. “I applied for a position in Latvia in part because of my family's connection with the nation,” Ziemelis said “This program will immerse me in a culture and language I have wanted to become closer to my whole life and allow me to impact the lives of the students I will teach. As an anthropology and linguistics student, participating in the Fulbright program will allow me to take the concepts and skills I learned at EMU and apply them to prepare for my future career goals.”

Valentyna Stadnik, ETA Semi-Finalist: Germany

Valentyna Stadnik graduated in the Fall of 2022 with departmental honors. “As a German Literature major,” Stadnik said, “applying for an English Teaching Award in Germany was the perfect chance to continue my study of German-speaking culture. The opportunity to teach English will also give me experience and confidence in future teaching assistantship positions in graduate school.”

Jacob Lanczki, ETA Semi-Finalist: Germany

Jacob Lanczki graduated from EMU in 2019 with a major in language and international careers and is looking to the Fulbright program to provide him with greater international experience.

The Honors College and Dr. Damiano invite students interested in the Fulbright Program to join an informational zoom session about the Fulbright program from 6 - 7 p.m. on Monday, April 3. For more information about the info session, contact the Honors College at EMUHonors@emich.edu.

About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 16,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and, its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.