EMU Today

YPSILANTI — The U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board announced that four Eastern Michigan University students have received Fulbright Awards for the 2023-24 academic year. All four—Sara Plohetski, Ian Cook, Valentyna Stadnik, and Jacob Lanczki—received English Teaching Assistantships and will teach English, share knowledge, and foster meaningful connections across communities in Germany, Spain, and Thailand.

FULBRIGHT STUDENT GRANTEES AWARDED FOR 2023-24
Sara Plohetski (MA23) - English Teaching Assistantship: Thailand
Ian Cook (BA21, MA23) - English Teaching Assistantship: Spain
Valentyna Stadnik (BA22) - English Teaching Assistantship: Germany
Jacob Lanczki (BA19) - English Teaching Assistantship: Germany

“This is an EMU record for the number of student Fulbright Finalists in a given year,” said Dr. Carla Damiano, professor of German and Fulbright Program Advisor. Any experience abroad can be life changing, but once you have become a select member of the Fulbright family, exciting opportunities open up to you for years to come – especially for those with plans to embark on graduate studies, or those who plan to begin their careers once the grant period has ended. Students return from their Fulbright year full of confidence and pride, they see themselves and the world through a different lens, and have learned respect for other cultures, languages, and ways of doing things. Fulbright’s core mission is to promote intercultural understanding.  Fulbright ETAs have optimal opportunity to immerse themselves in the culture, the people, and the customs of their host countries.

Ann Eisenberg, Dean of the Honors College, who, along with Damiano, provided support and feedback to some of the applicants, said, “All of these scholars had great stories to tell. They had prior experience in teaching and mentoring that made them an excellent fit for a teaching assistantship. They also had broad interests and could show how they would incorporate those interests into their teaching. For example, Valentyna proposed developing an American literature club and a cooking club, while Ian, who is a member of the EMU track team, proposed starting a running club. What we do in supporting the applicants is help them tell their stories in a clear and engaging fashion.” 

Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected in an open, merit-based competition that considers leadership potential, academic and/or professional achievement, and record of service. Their careers are enriched by joining a network of thousands of Fulbright alumni, many of whom are leaders in their fields. Notable Fulbright alumni include 62 Nobel Prize laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize recipients, 78 MacArthur Fellows, and 41 who have served as a head of state or government. Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 400,000 participants from over 160 countries the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program and is supported by the people of the United States and partner countries around the world. The Fulbright Program is funded through an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the Program.

More than 2,000 diverse U.S. students, artists, and early career professionals in more than 100 different fields of study receive Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards annually to study, teach English, and conduct research overseas. Additionally, more than 800 U.S. scholars -- faculty, artists, and professionals -- from all backgrounds teach or conduct research overseas through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program annually. 

For further information about the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State, please visit https://fulbrightprogram.org or contact the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Press Office at ECA-Press@state.gov.

About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 14,000 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. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. Visit the University’s rankings and points of pride websites to learn more. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website. To stay up to date on University news, activities and announcements, visit EMU Today.