BOONE, N.C. — The Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships (NCS), a division of University College at Appalachian State University, announces five Appalachian alumnae have been awarded 2020–21 Fulbright U.S. Student Program grants — a new record for the university, which was recognized as a top producing institution for Fulbright students among master’s institutions for the 2019–20 grant year.

Four of Appalachian’s Fulbright grant recipients will fulfill teaching assistantships and one will pursue graduate study abroad during spring 2021. Recipients of Fulbright awards are chosen on the basis of academic and professional achievement as well as their record of service and leadership potential in their respective fields.

Appalachian’s 2020–21 Fulbright recipients:

• Alumna Alexandra “Lexie” All ’20, of Clayton, a graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS).
• Alumna Caroline Sager ’18, of Raleigh, a CAS graduate.
• Alumna Nancy Patterson ’16, of Auburn, Alabama, a graduate of the Beaver College of Health Sciences (BCHS).
• Alumna Hayley Rose ’19 ’20, of Waxhaw, a two-time graduate of the Reich College of Education (RCOE).
• Alumna Katelyn Wilder ’20, of Mebane, a CAS graduate.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is the largest U.S. exchange program offering opportunities for students and young professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and primary and secondary school teaching worldwide. The program currently awards approximately 2,000 grants annually in all fields of study and operates in more than 140 countries worldwide.

At present, the Fulbright Program is suspended for all U.S. participants. Due to the U.S. Department of State’s Global Level 4 Health Advisory, which advises U.S. citizens to avoid all international travel due to the global impact of COVID-19, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) has delayed the start date of several components of the 2020–21 Fulbright U.S. Student Program until after Jan. 1, 2021.

The deadline for Appalachian students to apply for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program for the 2021–22 academic year is Sept. 8.

More on the Fulbright awardees

Alexandria ‘Lexie’ All ’20

College of Arts and Sciences

All, who earned her Bachelor of Science in languages, literatures and cultures with a concentration in Spanish, education (K–12) and minors in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)/applied linguistics and mathematics from Appalachian in May, was awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) to Spain.

“I am truly in awe that the Fulbright Commission selected me to represent the culture, language and common experiences of the United States as I pursue relationships with residents of Spain and others from around the world,” All said.

Regarding her past experiences abroad, she said, “Engaging with domestic and international communities has made me recognize the power of connection across cultural perimeters and has contributed to my personal philosophy to seek affinity and new perspectives with people whose lives intersect with mine.”

All has completed Spain-specific coursework, a study abroad program in Madrid and a variety of teaching internships.

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Caroline Sager ’18

College of Arts and Sciences

Sager, who graduated from Appalachian in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in languages, literatures and cultures with a concentration in Spanish and Hispanic studies and a Bachelor of Science in political science with a concentration in international and comparative politics, was awarded a Fulbright ETA to Cyprus.

“My long-standing academic interest in the Eastern Mediterranean and a virtual internship with the U.S. Embassy in Cyprus drew me to apply for an ETA in Cyprus as a way to examine the ways that the Greece–Turkey relationship is reflected — or not reflected — by Greek and Turkish Cypriots,” Sager said.

Sager, who has studied in Azerbaijan, Canada and Spain, said, “My language learning experiences allowed me to gain nuanced perspectives into other cultures and empowered me to pursue new opportunities,” she said.

Sager said the stories of her Appalachian professors who had completed Fulbrights inspired her to apply to the program.

She hopes to encourage English language learning as a tool for career advancement, new partnerships and innovation on the island of Cyprus.

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Nancy Patterson ’16

Beaver College of Health Sciences

Patterson, who holds a Bachelor of Social Work with a minor in Spanish from Appalachian and served two years in the Peace Corps, received a Fulbright ETA to Mexico.

“I hoped to bring the educational skills that I developed in Colombia and adapt them to a Mexican school setting. I have also been deeply interested in Mexico for a long time as a neighboring nation that influences the U.S. so profoundly,” Patterson said.

Speaking to others who may apply for a Fulbright scholarship, she said, “Know that choosing to experience the personal and professional development that comes with applying for such a prestigious award is a decision you will never regret.”

Patterson was inspired to apply to the Fulbright Program after attending an international meeting in Appalachian’s Plemmons Student Union in spring 2016.

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Hayley Rose ’19 ’20

Reich College of Education

Rose, who graduated with a Master of Arts in special education and a graduate certificate in autism spectrum disorders from Appalachian in May, received a Fulbright ETA to the European country of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

While there, Rose said she plans to “gather stories of the youth of Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to represent the resiliency of the nation but also weave in the potential that young minds hold and what they can accomplish for generations to come.”

“The Fulbright application process can be tough and overwhelming at times, but I am grateful for the growth that came from it,” Rose said.

She continued, “The reflective process of summarizing all of your accomplishments and credentials can be daunting, but at the same time, it gave me a greater appreciation for the journey that I am still on, both as a professional and as a person.”

Rose also holds dual Bachelor of Science degrees in middle grades education with concentrations in science and social studies from Appalachian.

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Katelyn Wilder ’20

College of Arts and Sciences

Wilder, who earned dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in English-creative writing and English-literary studies from Appalachian in May, said, “Being a Fulbrighter means I have the privilege of being an ambassador, and benefactor, of the Fulbright mission.”

Wilder, who initially applied for the Fulbright/Bangor University Award, received the prestigious Fulbright/Global Wales Postgraduate Award, which provides a higher degree of support and recognition, as well as more opportunities from Fulbright, Global Wales and the Welsh government.

She plans to enroll in the M.A. in creative writing program at Bangor University in Wales, where she said her goal is to work with the university’s creative writing and sustainability departments to create a short story collection highlighting Wales’ trials and successes as they work toward sustainability.

Wilder said she plans to use information concerning Appalachia’s background in the coal industry to “elicit critical dialogue between (Appalachia and Wales) these regions to produce stories that will “advocate for environmental mindfulness.”

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More on the Fulbright Program

Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has given more than 390,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists and scientists the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.

Fulbrighters address critical global challenges in all areas while building relationships, knowledge and leadership in support of the long-term interests of the U.S. Fulbright alumni have achieved distinction in many fields, including 60 who have been awarded the Nobel Prize, 88 who have received Pulitzer Prizes and 37 who have served as a head of state or government.

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App State named a top producer of Fulbright students in 2019–20

Feb. 13, 2020

In addition to being a top producer of Fulbright scholars, Appalachian is among top producers of Fulbright students for 2019–20.

Read the story

About Nationally Competitive Scholarships

Nationally Competitive Scholarships (NCS) works with the Appalachian community to recruit and support students for nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships, including those that support research, teaching and critical language learning. This is achieved with outreach, mentorship and advising throughout the entire application and selection process. NCS is committed to helping undergraduate and graduate students find ways to connect their Appalachian education to their future endeavors through scholarship opportunities. Learn more at https://ncs.appstate.edu.

About University College

Formed in 2007, University College consists of the university’s general education program, faculty and student support, and co-curricular programming and support – all designed to support the work of students both inside and outside the classroom. All students at Appalachian begin their education in University College and benefit from its programs until they graduate. Learn more at https://universitycollege.appstate.edu.

About the College of Arts and Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at Appalachian State University is home to 17 academic departments, two centers and one residential college. These units span the humanities and the social, mathematical and natural sciences. CAS aims to develop a distinctive identity built upon our university's strengths, traditions and unique location. The college’s values lie not only in service to the university and local community, but through inspiring, training, educating and sustaining the development of its students as global citizens. More than 6,400 student majors are enrolled in the college. As the college is also largely responsible for implementing App State’s general education curriculum, it is heavily involved in the education of all students at the university, including those pursuing majors in other colleges. Learn more at https://cas.appstate.edu.

About the Beaver College of Health Sciences

Appalachian State University’s Beaver College of Health Sciences (BCHS), opened in 2010, is transforming the health and quality of life for the communities it serves through interprofessional collaboration and innovation in teaching, scholarship, service and clinical outreach. BCHS offers nine undergraduate degree programs and seven graduate degree programs, which are organized into six departments: Nursing, Nutrition and Health Care Management, Public Health and Exercise Science, Recreation Management and Physical Education, Rehabilitation Sciences, and Social Work. The college’s academic programs are located in the Holmes Convocation Center on App State’s main campus and the Leon Levine Hall of Health Sciences, a state-of-the-art, 203,000-square-foot facility that is the cornerstone of the Wellness District. In addition, the college supports the Blue Cross NC Institute for Health and Human Services and has collaborative partnerships with the Wake Forest School of Medicine’s Physician Assistant Program, UNC Health Appalachian and numerous other health agencies. Learn more at https://healthsciences.appstate.edu.

About the Reich College of Education

Appalachian State University offers one of the largest undergraduate teacher preparation programs in North Carolina, graduating about 500 teachers a year. The Reich College of Education enrolls more than 2,000 students in its bachelor's, master's, education specialist and doctoral degree programs. With so many teacher education graduates working in the state, there is at least one RCOE graduate teaching in every county in North Carolina. Learn more at https://rcoe.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.