Biology master’s student Gregory Sproull has received a Fulbright research grant to study in Poland. His research project will track historical patterns of the effects of bark beetles on Norway spruce trees. Photo courtesy of Gregory Sproull
Four University of Denver students have won Fulbright Scholarships to study or teach abroad in the 2014–15 academic year. The DU winners include:
Elizabeth Caruth, a master’s student at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, has received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Germany
Christian Allen, an undergraduate with majors in international studies and political science, has received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Taiwan.
Monica Heilman, an undergraduate sociology major, has received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to South Korea.
Gregory Sproull, a biology master’s student, has received a Fulbright research grant to study in Poland. His research project will track historical patterns of the effects of bark beetles on Norway spruce trees in hopes of determining the key environmental cues affecting vulnerability to attack.
“Receiving the Fulbright means a great deal to me. It is a scholarship that combines my two passions — research and travel,” says Sproull, who visited Krakow while studying abroad in Prague.
“I was immediately struck by the richness of Polish culture and the friendliness of Polish people,” he says of that experience. “This grant will allow me to return to this region with a purpose.”
Upon returning to the U.S., Sproull says, he intends to apply for positions with federal and state agencies that will enable him to continue investigating ecological disturbances on local and national levels.
In addition to the teaching and research awards, junior Boettcher scholar Ryan Carson was selected as a member of the Fulbright Scotland Summer Institute, a five-week summer program designed to provide American undergraduate students with a unique perspective on the cultural and political forces that have shaped modern Scotland, with a strong emphasis on its pioneering role as a technological nation. Carson will study at the University of Dundee and the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow.
“I’m incredibly excited to receive a place on the Fulbright Scotland Summer Institute,” says Carson, who is pursuing degrees in public policy and international studies. “I can’t wait to learn about the culture and history of Scotland, especially in terms of how they’re playing into their current political and policy discussions. Getting to know the other participants and local students will be amazing as well. I hope the work will enable me to come back to DU with new insights to share.”
The Fulbright program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, is the largest U.S. international exchange program. The scholarship was established in 1946 to build relationships between the U.S. and other countries. It is a prestigious and competitive grant awarded to the very best students across the nation.
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