Two Seniors, Two Alumni Receive Fulbright Grants
Two graduates from the Class of 2024 and one alumnus from each of the Classes of 2023 and 2022 have earned coveted Fulbright grants, empowering them to conduct research, study at the graduate level, or teach English abroad next year.
Fulbright grants are bestowed “to encourage collaboration between citizens of the U.S. and those of other countries to develop ideas and address international concerns.” With its vast academic focus, including the social sciences, humanities, arts, and natural sciences, the Fulbright program emphasizes cultural exchange and promotes mutual understanding.
One senior and two alumni earned English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) grants, and one senior a research grant. Another 13 Swarthmore students and alumni who applied for the honor were semi-finalists; five are listed as alternates who could still be offered grants before the fall, says Melissa Mandos, fellowships and prizes advisor.
This year’s Swarthmore grantees:
Vivian Guo ’24, who majored in biochemistry and environmental studies at Swarthmore, received a research grant to Germany to study "How Vanadium-Dependent Nitrogenase Catalyzes the Conversion of CO2 and CO" at the Max Planck Institute of Chemical Energy Conversion.
“I am super excited to travel to Germany to pursue this research, since it combines my interests in chemistry, biology, and environmental remediation! I'm also looking forward to traveling around Germany, immersing myself in German culture through food, learning from my mentors and the other Fulbright grantees, and making lifelong memories and connections.”
Susan McHarris ’24, who majored in Honors philosophy and minored in environmental studies and global studies at Swarthmore, received an English Teaching Assistantship to Mexico.
Quincy Ponvert ’23, an Honors music major and educational studies and Latin American and Latino studies minor at Swarthmore, received an English Teaching Assistantship to Argentina.
“I visited Buenos Aires in the summer of 2022 to study tango music both as a performer and as a researcher. I've been trying to get back to Argentina ever since, and I was thrilled to hear that the Fulbright ETA could be my path to return. I'm especially excited that all Argentina ETA placements are at English teacher training colleges, where the students are teachers themselves.”
, a history and educational studies special major at Swarthmore, received an English Teaching Assistantship to Thailand.
