Fifteen OHIO students, alumni, and staff selected for Fulbright, CLS and Boren awards and fellowships that will take them all over the globe

Fifteen Ohio University students and alumni were selected for prestigious awards and fellowships through the Fulbright, Critical Language Scholarship, and Boren programs that will allow them to advance their knowledge in their field while working to promote international, educational and cultural exchange in countries across the world.

Seven Ohio University students and alumni were selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, two were selected for the Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad, two were selected for the Fulbright Austria U.S. Teaching Assistant Program, one was selected for the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS), one was selected for the Boren Fellowship and one OHIO staff member was selected for the Fulbright Scholars Program.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program recipients include Fiona Avocado, Klae Bainter, Abby Hutzel, Alyssa King, Tyler King, Kaylyn Temple and Toni Doman-Vandyke. Alaina Bender also received the Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad scholarship.

Audra Anjum, an instructional designer from the Office of Instructional Innovation, also received a Fulbright Scholar Program grant that will allow her to build skills and connections, gain valuable international insights, and return home to share her experiences with other OHIO students and colleagues.

"OHIO is a national leader in helping students win prestigious awards for international research, teaching, and language study," Executive Vice President and Provost Elizabeth Sayrs said. "This year's winners will experience enriching cultural immersion while representing us around the globe."

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is one of the most competitive academic exchange programs globally. The program fully funds U.S. graduating seniors, alumni and graduate students as they conduct research, develop creative projects, and/or teach English abroad, all while dedicating part of their time to building greater understanding between the United States and host countries. There are over 140 countries students and alumni can study in with most programs lasting for nine to 12 months.

The Fulbright Hays Group Projects provide grants to support overseas projects in training, research, and curriculum development in modern foreign languages and area studies for teachers, students and faculty engaged in a common endeavor. Projects may include short-term seminars, curriculum development, group research or study, or advanced intensive language programs.

"In applying for international awards and grants through programs like Boren, CLS, and Fulbright, our students and alumni clarify for themselves what effective cross-cultural exchange, education, and ambassadorship entail,” Christopher Lewis, director of the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards, said. “They make us proud as they travel across the globe to study, research, and teach while representing the U.S., their home communities, and Ohio University abroad."

Several other Ohio University students and alumni also received prestigious awards including Robert Green, who received a Boren Fellowship to study the Khmer language in Cambodia during the 2023-24 academic year; Brian Colgan and Caroline Bissonnette, who received Fulbright Austria U.S. Teaching Assistant (USTA) scholarships; and Ethan Brown, who received a Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad scholarship but declined to accept the Critical Language Scholarship instead.

The Boren Fellowship funds research and language study proposals by U.S. graduate students in world regions critical to U.S. interests. The Fulbright Austria U.S. Teaching Assistant Program supports graduating seniors and alumni as they teach English in schools and expose young Austrians to other cultures for eight months and the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) is an immersive summer opportunity for American college and university students to learn languages essential to America's engagement with the world. Students will spend eight to 10 weeks learning one of 14 languages at an intensive study abroad institute. The CLS Program is designed to promote rapid language gains and essential intercultural fluency in regions that are critical to U.S. national security and economic prosperity.

Any Bobcat interested in learning more about the various Fulbright programs can contact Christopher Lewis at christopherlewis@ohio.edu.

Read more about all the Boren, CLS, and Fulbright recipients and alternates below:

Fulbright U.S. Student Program

Fiona Avocado (they/them) is a Pittsburgh based visual artist, educator, organizer, and writer. They have been an active working artist since 2010, publishing comics and zines, creating illustrations, making prints, and assembling textile pieces using upcycled materials. Avocado received their BA in Arts and Humanities and Professional Writing from Michigan State University and their MFA in Printmaking from Ohio University. Currently they are a member of Lavender Estero Print Studio, the co-President of the Pittsburgh Print Group, the founder/organizer of the Itty Bitty Print Exchange, and a Fulbright Awardee to Argentina for 2024.

Klae Bainter received his MFA in Playwriting from Ohio University in 2022. He will research and create post-dramatic theater in Germany during the grant period.

Toni Doman-Vandyke is a 2017 graduate with an MA in Media Arts and Studies. She currently works at the nonprofit organization, Birthplace of Country Music, Inc. in Bristol, VA as Grants Coordinator. Since 2018 she has produced and hosted the WBCM-LP Radio Bristol program “Mountain Song & Story,” which showcases influential Appalachian artisans and traditions through in-depth interviews, music, and storytelling. She will work in Canada.

Abby Hutzel is a 2023 graduate with a BA in Political Science and Global Studies. She will participate in the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant program in Taiwan beginning this August. In the future, she hopes to work in international humanitarian aid and outreach.

Alyssa King is a 2022 graduate with a BAS in Journalism (news and information), a BA in Spanish, an MA in Spanish, and a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate, who will participate in the English Teaching Assistant program in Malta.

Tyler King is a 2019 graduate with a BA in Global Studies and BA in Spanish, who will participate in the English Teaching Assistant program in Argentina.

Kaylyn Temple is a 2021 graduate with degrees in Latin American Studies, European Studies, and War and Peace, a minor in Spanish and certificates in ecotourism and diversity studies. She has received a grant to teach English and U.S. culture in Brazil.

Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad

Alaina Bender is a 2023 graduate with a degree in Geography—Globalization and Development who will complete the Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad program in Kenya this summer.

Fulbright Scholar Program

Audra Anjum will facilitate a program for instructional design and faculty development at the JSS Medical College in Mysuru, Karnataka, India. In collaboration with faculty and administration, she will teach classes and implement a series of professional development opportunities to enhance teaching practices and student engagement, with specific focuses on skills such as technology use, accessibility and inclusivity, active learning classroom strategies, and multimedia development. 

Boren Fellowship

Robert Green is a Ph.D. student in History with a focus on Southeast Asia and an emphasis on Cambodian history. He will study the Khmer language in Cambodia for eight months during his fourth year of his Ph.D.

Fulbright Austria U.S. Teaching Assistant (USTA) Program

Brian Colgan is a 2023 graduate from the OHIO Honors Program with a degree in International Business -German and a minor in finance. Colgan will teach English in Austria.  

Caroline Bissonnette is a graduating senior who recently received a Fulbright Austria U.S. Teaching Assistant (USTA) Program grant.

Critical Language Scholarship

Ethan Brown is a rising senior triple majoring in Global Studies – Africa, Sociology, and Economics, with certificates in Wealth and Poverty Studies, War and Peace, and International Cultural Understanding. His areas of interest include global poverty alleviation and empowerment through education and storytelling. He is a Swahili Critical Language Scholarship recipient and will be continuing his study of Swahili in Arusha, Tanzania this summer.