Punxsutawney Resident's Daughter Wins Prestigious Fulbright Scholarship

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Kathleen Lavelle was awarded a Fulbright Teaching Assistantship to Spain

SCRANTON, PA (06/14/2012)(readMedia)-- Kathleen Lavelle is among four University of Scranton graduates awarded Fulbright U.S. Student Program scholarships for the 2012-2013 academic year.

Lavelle is the daughter of Ann Kennedy of Avoca and Patrick Lavelle of Punxsutawney.

Members of the University's class of 2012 earning Fulbright scholarships are: Lavelle of Avoca, who won a Fulbright Teaching Assistantship to Spain, and Ellen (Maggie) Coyne of Stony Point, N.Y., who won a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to South Korea. In addition, Anna DiColli, a graduate of the University's class of 2010 from Broomall, was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship in Public Health to Spain. Class of 2010 graduate C.J. Libassi, a native of Dalton now residing in Washington, D.C., won a Fulbright Teaching Assistantship to Spain.

The scholarships were announced recently by the United States Department of the State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. The four were selected from a pool of more than 9,000 applicants.

"The Fulbright scholarship is the U.S. government's premier scholarship program for overseas graduate study, research, teaching and volunteer work," said Susan Trussler, Ph.D., Fulbright program advisor and associate professor of economics/finance at The University of Scranton. "These students are outstanding not only in their academic and research credentials, but in their longstanding commitment to service, which each intends to continue as Fulbright scholars in their host country."

A participant in the University's Special Jesuit Liberal Arts (SJLA) Honors Program, Lavelle graduated magna cum laude as a double major in biochemistry, cell and molecular biology and Hispanic studies, with a minor in philosophy.

In addition to teaching English and science at a secondary school in Madrid, Spain, Lavelle plans to supplement her future career in medicine by volunteering at a medical clinic in the local community.

Lavelle believes two aspects of her University experience in particular will aid her as a teacher in Spain: the rigorous course requirements of the SJLA Honors Program; and her service as a translator for Spanish-speaking patients at the University's Leahy Clinic for the Uninsured, a free clinic on campus.

In addition, Lavelle served as a teaching assistant in the University's microbiology laboratory and as a tutor in math for the University's Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence.

"From my experience as a translator and as a tutor, I have found that not only is each student different, but every student can teach you something different about yourself," said Lavelle.

A dean's list student, Lavelle is a recipient of the University's full-tuition Presidential scholarship. She served as vice president of Alpha Sigma Nu (the national Jesuit honor society), and as an editor for the journal published by Phi Sigma Tau (the philosophy honor society). She is also a member of Alpha Lambda Delta (the freshman honor society).

Lavelle also served as vice president of presentations for the Health Professions Organization, visited local elementary schools to conduct the Science Games with students, served as chairperson for EFFORT (the Excess Food for Others Recovery Team), and spent spring break 2009 on a service trip in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, providing help with flood relief. She accompanied medical alumni from the University on a mission trip to Haiti earlier this year.

In addition, Lavelle participated in research projects at Scranton and is awaiting publication review on a journal article she co-authored titled "A Real-time PCR Assay for Burkholderia gladioli."

In January 2010, Lavelle studied abroad in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Upon her return to the U.S., Lavelle plans to attend medical school, hopefully one whose affiliate non-profit programs and clinics service Spanish-speaking communities.

She is a graduate of Scranton Preparatory School.

Since 1972, a total of 138 University of Scranton graduates have received grants in the competitions administered by the Institute of International Education. For seven consecutive years, The Chronicle of Higher Education has listed The University of Scranton among the "top producers" of Fulbright awards for American students.

The University had seven national Fulbright finalists for 2012-2013, three of whom were awarded scholarships and one graduate, Nicole Linko of Lake Ariel being selected as an alternate to Estonia and still awaiting final designation. While working in Maryland, Libassi applied for his Fulbright "at large."