Fourteen University of Minnesota graduate and undergraduate students are Fulbright scholars, and three early-career educators from Minnesota have received five-year, $150,000 fellowships from the Knowles Science Teaching Foundation.
Fulbright recipients
Nine graduate and five undergraduate students at the U of M have received grants to pursue graduate study or research in a foreign nation in 2011. U of M graduate students also won three of the 10 Fulbrights offered nationwide for study in Norway.
According to the university’s press release, the Fulbright competition is administered by the U’s Graduate School and the Office for National Scholarships in the University Honors Program. The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Following is a summary of winners, their academic areas and where they are headed. Details of the scholars’ plans, which are quite interesting but I only have so many pixels, are in this press release.
These students are all bound for the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway:
Alyssa Mae Anderson, a doctoral student in entomology.
Andrew James Carlson, a master’s student in mechanical engineering.
Rolf Erik Jacobson, a master’s student in architecture.
Other Fulbright scholars:
Andrew Reine Johnson, a doctoral student in sociology, is one of 15 U.S. students going to Brazil.
Moana Light McClellan, a doctoral student in plant biological sciences, is headed to Costa Rica.
Heather Elaine O’Leary, a doctoral student in anthropology, is one of 20 U.S. recipients going to India.
Raphi Konstantin Rechitsky, a doctoral student in sociology, is one of 10 U.S. recipients going to Ukraine.
Annie Katsura Rollins, who received her M.F.A. in theatre arts this year, will go to China.
Thomas Flynn, a December 2008 graduate in political science, will go to Jordan.
Sara Gregg, a 2009 magna cum laude graduate in Spanish studies and Russian, received a teaching assistantship in Russia.
Woody Hanson, a spring 2010 graduate with a B.S. in architecture, will study in Cyprus.
Emily Kippels, a 2010 summa cum laude graduate in anthropology, received a teaching assistantship in Mexico.
Thomas Snyder, a 2009 magna cum laude graduate in global studies and political science, is going to China.
Knowles Science Teaching Foundation fellowships
Three early-career Minnesota educators are among 32 national winners of teaching fellowships in mathematics and physical science from the Knowles Science Teaching Foundation. The fellowships, worth up to $150,000 over five years, go to winners in states committed to teaching science and mathematics in high schools across the nation, according to a press release.
The fellowships include “mentoring, classroom materials, professional development and access to a network of like-minded colleagues and educators nationwide.” The aim is “to reverse the disturbing national trend of nearly half of all teachers leaving the field within the first five years of teaching,” according to the press release.
Here’s a brief look at the Minnesota winners, but check out each of their online bios (links below):
Andrea Grant is a Physical Science Teaching Fellow from Minneapolis. She has her M.S. in material sciences from the U of M. Read more about her here.
Rebekah Johnson, a graduate of Carleton College from Pelican Rapids, Minn., is a Mathematics Teaching Fellow. Details.
Katie Waddle, of St. Paul and graduate of the University of Chicago, also is a Mathematics Teaching Fellow. Bio.
Who are the standouts at your college or university? Send news tips to cselix[at]minnpost[dot]com.
