Four recent Ball State University graduates have been
chosen for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program—one of
the most prestigious and widely recognized international programs, which grants
support for pursuing graduate studies, conducting research, or teaching English
abroad.
Each graduate has been selected for an English Teaching
Assistantship (ETA). In this role, they will help students in their host
countries develop English language skills, and serve as cultural ambassadors
between nations.
This year’s Ball State Fulbright U.S. Student Program
selections are:
• Brianna
Lopez of Noblesville, Ind. / Host country destination—Bulgaria
Ms.
Lopez completed a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, with
minors in Philosophy and Women’s & Gender Studies, in May 2022. At Ball State, she was a teaching assistant in two Psychology
courses, a peer mentor for Honors College freshmen, associate editor for Ball State’s
international undergraduate philosophy journal, and co-founder of a new
undergraduate psychology journal.
• Alexis Pitchford of Carmel, Ind. / Host country
destination—Greece
Ms. Pitchford completed a bachelor’s degree
in Elementary Education, along with a minor in Psychology of Human Development,
in December 2021. She is a graduate
student in the Educational Psychology program, and is scheduled to complete her
master’s degree in July 2022. At Ball State, Ms. Pitchford has been a tutor and
an executive board member of both Make-A-Wish and Hillel, a Jewish student
organization.
• Riley
Sigler of Torrance, Calif. / Host country destination—Spain
Ms. Sigler completed a major in Theatre (Acting),
and minor in Spanish, in
May 2022. Her experiences
during the past four years included acting, directing shows with young children
through Performing Arts Workshops, producing and hosting a podcast, and serving
as a teaching assistant. She intends to act and teach acting, eventually at the
university level.
• Jess
Walls of Brookville, Ind. / Host country destination—Taiwan
Ms. Walls completed a Teaching major in
English and minor in Chinese in May
2022. At Ball State, she was active in the Future Educators Peer
Mentoring Program, Cardinal Teacher Corps, and Chinese Club. After completing
her Fulbright year, Ms. Walls plans to complete a post-baccalaureate
certification in teaching Mandarin as a foreign language and teach English
language arts and Mandarin in Indiana schools.
Another recent
graduate, Jessie Russett of Trinidad, Colo., was offered a
Fulbright ETA to Poland but opted to decline. Ms. Russett is a 2009 Ball State
graduate with a bachelor of arts degree in History, and 2012 graduate with a master
of arts degree in Anthropology. She was one of 14
semifinalists from Ball State in this year’s Fulbright competition.