Nazareth College Students Receive Prestigious Fulbright Grants

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Jeri Beckens

ROCHESTER, NY (05/03/2011)(readMedia)-- Nazareth College is proud to announce that the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board has selected Jeri Beckens of Sodus, N.Y., Alyssa Pantano of Amherst, N.Y., Amanda Poppe of Jordan, N.Y., Amber Powers of Webster, N.Y., and Daniel Simmons of Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y., to receive 2011-2012 U.S. Junior Fulbright awards. This year's recipients make a record breaking number in one year for the College. In the last five years, there have been 12 Fulbrights awarded to Nazareth College students.

Beckens, a senior with a German and international studies double major and Spanish minor, will teach English in Germany. When she returns, she is interested in pursuing a master's in international relations, or TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages).

Pantano, a senior with a Spanish and inclusive childhood/middle childhood education double major, will teach English in Argentina. Upon her return, she plans to attend graduate school at the University of Buffalo to study English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) with an extension in bilingual education. She plans to work with immigrant and refugee populations in the U.S. and possibly pursue a doctorate related to the social foundations of education.

Poppe, a senior with a Spanish and adolescence education double major, will teach English in Spain. She plans on attending graduate school for TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages) when she returns.

Powers, a TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages) graduate student, will teach English in Nepal.

Simmons, a senior with German and Spanish double major, will teach English in Germany. There, he is hoping to get involved with an NGO that works on environmental sustainability initiatives. Upon return, he plans to apply to graduate schools. His dream is to work in international relations.

Established in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, the Fulbright Program's objective is to build mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the rest of the world. Sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Fulbright Program is America's flagship international education exchange. Approximately 279,500 "Fulbrights," 105,400 from the United States and 174,100 from other countries, have participated in the Program since its inception over fifty years ago.

Founded in 1924, Nazareth College is located on a close-knit, suburban campus in the dynamic, metropolitan region of Rochester, N.Y. The College offers challenging academic programs in the liberal arts and sciences and professional programs in health and human services, education, and management. Nazareth's strong cultures of service and community prepare students to be successful professionals and engaged citizens. The College enrolls approximately 2,000 undergraduate students and 1,000 graduate students.