From Tajikistan to Ecuador, Brigham Young University students have been making connections with individuals across the globe through Fulbright grants. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards funds to complete a graduate degree, conduct an independent research project, or teach English abroad. Through this scholarship, BYU students have a unique opportunity to “go forth and serve” aligning with the Fulbright mission to connect people and connect nations.
This year, seven standout students and alumni from BYU are semi-finalists for the 2024-2025 Fulbright program.
Braden Hintze - Fulbright Malawi English Teaching Assistantship
Braden Hintze, College of Life Science: Department of Neuroscience, discovered his love for assisting people in need on a mission in Huancayo, Peru. This love for people led him to choose a major in neuroscience and a minor in gerontology, and to pursue a career in healthcare and humanitarianism.
“My study of neuroscience and even gerontology has been driving my passion for cross-cultural engagement and my desire to contribute meaningfully to global education and healthcare initiatives,” Hintze said.
Hintze chose to apply for the Fulbright Mawali English Teaching Assistantship Award after hearing inspiring stories about the country’s culture from his sister who did a humanitarian trip there.
“What interested me in applying for a Fulbright award was primarily the opportunity to engage in both teaching and humanitarian work in a foreign country,” Hintze said.
Hintze explained his experience in healthcare combined with time in Mawali will help him progress in his career and humanitarian goals. Receiving the scholarship will allow Hintze to achieve his goal of “merging healthcare, humanitarianism, and education in pursuit of positive change.”
Jane Lundgren - Fulbright Latvia Teaching Assistantship
Jane Lundgren, College of Humanities: German and Russian Department, was assigned to serve a mission in Russia, but never got to serve in the country due to COVID.
“I changed my major to Russian after I returned from my mission, and I absolutely loved it,” Lundgren said. “Studying Russian has expanded the way I think and given me new avenues to interpret the world.”
Last summer, Lundgren did an internship in Latvia, and is currently teaching middle school at a brand-new, non-profit school in South Carolina. “I think there is great power in education, and languages especially, and that made deciding on an English Teaching Assistantship award easy,” Lundgren said.
She is a semi-finalist for the Fulbright Latvia Teaching Assistantship Award, where she can apply her Russian skills and build on her previous connections in the country while creating new ones.
“When people ask me where I want to live when I grow up, my answer is always ‘everywhere in the world,’” Lundgren said. “The chance to live abroad and engage meaningfully as part of a community is very appealing to me.”
Lundgren has also done an internship in Philadelphia, and a study abroad at the BYU Jerusalem Center. She plans to begin medical school in the fall of 2025 and wants to practice humanitarian medicine abroad. “I’ve found that the most meaningful things in life stem from opportunities to connect with others, and I hope to do this through Fulbright,” Lundgren said.
Abi McEuen - Fulbright Hungary English Teaching Assistant
Abi McEuen, College of Family, Home, and Life Sciences: Department of Political Science, is a political science student. She has done internships with Congress and a law firm and plans to apply for law school.
“My major influenced my desire to apply for a Fulbright because it pushed me to explore outside experiences in different cultural contexts that could help to influence my future career,” McEuen said.
McEuen learned about Fulbright awards by helping professors apply for Fulbright awards while working for BYU Research Development. She chose to apply for a Fulbright in Hungary where she could learn about the Hungarian legal system and Hungarian culture.
“It would mean a lot to receive the Fulbright award,” McEuen said. “I feel that this experience would help to inform me of what I should do next as I consider possible career paths.”
Erica Miller - Fulbright Fiji Open Study/Research Award
Erica Miller, McKay School of Education: Department of Counseling Psychology and Special Education, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in French and a minor in political science from BYU in 1990, and master’s in special education in 2021. Miller is a parent of disabled children, taught in special education, presented research at local, regional, and international conferences, and co-authored several publications.
In 2022, she assisted with research exploring culturally adapted therapeutic practices in Fiji, where there is a growing movement to incorporate mental health competencies in education.
“The Fijians I met and worked with are some of the kindest, warmest, and happiest people I have ever met,” Miller said. “As a parent of children with disabilities and as a teacher of special education, I observed that resilience was an important part of my children’s and students’ success.”
A Fulbright in Fiji will help Miller achieve her goal of understanding how to support children and youth in Fiji as they develop resilience. Miller has plans to become a professor or a full-time researcher after pursuing a doctoral degree.
Stetler Tanner - Fulbright/Master of Science in Public Health, University of Limerick
Stetler Tanner, College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences: School of Family Life, is a semi-finalist for the Fulbright/Masters of Science in Public Health, University of Limerick Award in Ireland. Through the Fulbright, he hopes to earn a master’s in public health at University of Limerick before attending medical school.
“I could take the skills and character I have learned at BYU to go forth to serve in Ireland and in global health,” Tanner said.
Tanner is studying family life with an emphasis in human development. Tanner has experience volunteering as a medical Portuguese and English interpreter, and volunteering with International Rescue Committee in Salt Lake City, where he helped provide healthcare access to recently resettled refugees in Utah. Through these experiences, Tanner learned how to provide better healthcare to people from different backgrounds.
In the future, Tanner has a goal to become a pediatric physician and work in the global health field as a physician-researcher. “My goal will be to promote healthcare access among patients from disparate circumstances,” Tanner said.
Conor Thomas - Fulbright/Royal Holloway, University of London
Conor Thomas, College of Humanities: Department of Philosophy, initially majored in philosophy because he wanted to go to law school, but said “by the time I was a senior, I was obsessed with philosophy and didn’t want to study anything else.”
Thomas graduated from BYU in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and minors in logic, sociology, and theoretical and applied ethics. He is the two-time winner of BYU’s philosophical essay contest, and served as president of the BYU Philosophy Society.
Thomas is a semi-finalist for the Fulbright/Royal Holloway, University of London Award in the UK. Thomas’ interest in the Fulbright was sparked after reading an essay about free speech written by a Royal Holloway faculty member. The essay inspired him to apply for the Fulbright scholarship for the university.
He plans to study the ethical implications of misinformation. “I found something in my undergrad that I am very passionate about and willing to work very hard on,” Thomas said. “The chance to study with such an ideal mentor at Royal Holloway would be life changing to say the least.”
Joshua Webster-Ford - Fulbright Master’s Degree Program Awards: China Medical University Award in Chinese Medicine
Joshua Webster-Ford, College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, is studying biochemistry with a minor in physics. He studied abroad in China during high school. Webster-Ford was chosen as a semi-finalist for the Fulbright Master’s Degree Program Award: China Medical University Award in Chinese Medicine in Taiwan.
“I am interested in medicine as it is my ideal combination of communication and language with science and technology,” Webster-Ford said. “I’ve always wanted to pursue a degree in a foreign language because I think you can’t really master a language until you learn about a different subject in that language.”
In Taiwan, he hopes to learn proficient Chinese to use in a future career, and to learn about traditional Chinese medicine techniques. His goal is to pursue a doctorate and residency program in medical physics.
“Medical physics is a cool field that combines radioactive chemistry, quantum mechanics, and computer technology to create better ways to detect and treat cancer,” Webster-Ford said.
The accomplishment of becoming a semi-finalist for the U.S. Student Fulbright Program reflects not only the academic excellence of these BYU students and alumni, but also their commitment to lifelong service. These individuals are prepared to make a positive impact on a global scale.
Applications for 2025 Fulbright grants are now open. Contact BYU National Scholarships and Prestigious Fellowships to learn more about the opportunities available through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.