The four App State recipients of Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards for 2022–23. Pictured, from left to right, are alumna Payton Blaney ’22, of Reidsville; alumnus Henry Campbell ’21, of Winston-Salem; alumna Ilya Wang ’20, of Rockwell and Taichung, Taiwan; and alumnus Andrew Williard ’22, of Winston-Salem. Photos by Chase Reynold
4 App State alumni awarded 2022–23 Fulbrights to teach or research abroad
“We at App State give each of our applicants extraordinary support, including reading drafts of application essays and providing feedback. During this process, students come to discover how they can contribute to the Fulbright mission while at the same time developing themselves for a successful future.”
Dr. Jefford Vahlbusch, interim adviser for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program at App State, dean of App State’s Honors College and professor of German
“The amount of support given to Fulbright applicants by faculty and staff at Appalachian State University is unparalleled.”
App State alumnus and Fulbright recipient Andrew Williard ’22
“We at App State give each of our applicants extraordinary support, including reading drafts of application essays and providing feedback. During this process, students come to discover how they can contribute to the Fulbright mission while at the same time developing themselves for a successful future.”
Dr. Jefford Vahlbusch, interim adviser for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program at App State, dean of App State’s Honors College and professor of German
Beginning this fall, the Fulbright recipients will travel abroad, with three fulfilling English language teaching assistantships and one engaging in a self-designed, yearlong research project. 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.
Alumna Ilya Wang ’20, of Rockwell and Taichung, Taiwan.
App State’s Kelli Frawley ’22, of Benicia, California, and Kingsport, Tennessee, has been named an alternate for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) in Spain. Fulbright alternates may receive grants if additional funding from the host country becomes available. Frawley, who earned her master’s degree in student affairs administration from App State in May, is a previous Fulbright recipient: In 2020 she traveled to Argentina to teach as a Fulbright English Language Assistant.
“All students and alumni of App State should feel inspired by the success of Payton, Andrew, Henry, Ilya and Kelli and motivated to consider applying for Fulbright grants in future years,” said Dr. Jefford Vahlbusch, interim adviser for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program at App State, dean of App State’s Honors College and professor of German.
He added, “We at App State give each of our applicants extraordinary support, including reading drafts of application essays and providing feedback. During this process, students come to discover how they can contribute to the Fulbright mission while at the same time developing themselves for a successful future.”
Vahlbusch highlighted App State students’ “impressive success” in earning Fulbright grants in recent years, citing the efforts of faculty and staff across campus — including those in the NCS Office, which facilitates the Fulbright U.S. Student Program at App State — to support these students.
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 more than 2,200 grants annually in all fields of study and operates in more than 140 countries worldwide.
Vahlbusch said that, even for students who do not receive a Fulbright grant offer, the application process alone — which typically includes six months of work for each student — “often bears other, great rewards.”
The deadline for App State students to apply for the 2023–24 Fulbright U.S. Student Program will be in early September. Visit the NCS website for deadline updates and to learn more about the Fulbright Program.
“The amount of support given to Fulbright applicants by faculty and staff at Appalachian State University is unparalleled.”
App State alumnus and Fulbright recipient Andrew Williard ’22
About the Fulbright recipients
App State alumna Payton Blaney ’22, of Reidsville, is a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship recipient for the 2022–23 academic year. She will begin her teaching assignment in Berlin, Germany, in fall 2022. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Blaney shared that her Fulbright experience will be her first endeavor abroad — an opportunity to significantly improve her German language skills while learning how to live and work outside the U.S. “This is super important to me because I have strong aspirations to pursue a master’s degree in international relations and eventually a career in the U.S. Foreign Service,” she said.
Her advice for App State students who are considering applying for a Fulbright: “Share your application with your friends, family and mentors, and to be open to constructive criticism. Your loved ones know the real you and can offer valuable feedback on the authenticity of your application. I’d also suggest researching the history of the Fulbright Program and aligning your essays with its values and objectives.”
At App State, Blaney took part in the Watauga Residential College, International Relations Association and German Club. She also served as an instructional assistant in the German program and as a lab instructor in introductory German courses and was a volunteer in German classes at Lenoir’s Hibriten High School. She completed an internship at Watauga County Board of Elections.
App State alumnus Andrew Williard ’22, of Winston-Salem, is a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship recipient for the 2022–23 academic year. He will begin his teaching assignment in Saxony, Germany, in fall 2022. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Andrew Williard ’22
Williard received a Fulbright ETA and will begin his teaching appointment in Saxony, Germany, this fall. A former Honors College student, Williard graduated from App State in May with degrees in economics-environmental economics and policy and languages, literatures, and cultures-German.
He plans to apply his Fulbright experiences and knowledge to his future educational and career goals, he said, which include potentially completing a master’s degree in environmental studies or international relations and working for the U.S. State Department — particularly in international policy for climate change.
“Experiencing Germany’s technological and social advances in regard to climate change, a sustainable future and promoting social justice is an integral pathway toward my educational and professional goals while utilizing my enhanced language skills,” Williard said.
Williard advises App State student Fulbright applicants to “talk to your professors and advisers early on, attend any and all available information sessions and start your application as early as possible.” He added, “The amount of support given to Fulbright applicants by faculty and staff at Appalachian State University is unparalleled.”
Over his undergraduate career, Williard served as a peer academic coach and mentor in the Student Learning Center and as a resident assistant in University Housing. He is past president and secretary of App State’s German Club and held membership in the Appalachian Popular Programming Society, Omicron Delta Epsilon, Beta Gamma Sigma and Delta Phi Alpha. He is a two-time recipient of the Dean’s Club Scholarship, offered by App State’s Walker College of Business.
App State alumnus Henry Campbell ’21, of Charlotte, is a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship recipient for the 2022–23 academic year. He will begin his teaching assignment in Taiwan in fall 2022. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Campbell is hopeful that his Fulbright experience will open future doors of opportunity, he said. His post-Fulbright goals include possibly pursuing an advanced degree and/or a career in diplomacy or human rights.
He encourages App State students to “go for it” when it comes to applying for a Fulbright, adding, “The earlier you start your application, the better.”
In 2020, Campbell received a Critical Language Scholarship to study Chinese. He completed his program virtually over the summer due to COVID-19, during which time he strengthened his Chinese speaking skills and learned more about Chinese culture through interacting with language partners, tutors and teachers.
App State alumna Ilya Wang ’20 is a Fulbright Open Study/Research Award recipient for the 2022–23 academic year. She will begin her Fulbright appointment in Argentina in fall 2022. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Ilya Wang ’20
Wang received a Fulbright Open Study/Research Award and will engage in research at the University of San Martín in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She graduated from App State in 2020, earning her B.A. in global studies with a concentration in global food systems. Wang works as a volunteer coordinator and sous-chef at local nonprofit F.A.R.M. Cafe.
Her Fulbright project is an intergenerational study that explores three generations of Chinese immigrant women living in Buenos Aires and their access/barriers to reproductive health care. Wang is currently applying for medical school, with the aim of specializing in women’s reproductive health.
“As a future physician, I want to be able to provide inclusive and accessible health care,” Wang said, adding that her research will allow her to better understand health care access for immigrant populations and women of color, as well as an opportunity to polish her Spanish and Chinese language skills.
Wang described the Fulbright application process as daunting, yet “extremely rewarding,” advising students who may be considering applying to “lean into your support system and find mentors who believe in you.”
Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has given hundreds of thousands of 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 United States. 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.
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers recent graduates and graduate students research, study, and teaching opportunities in more than 140 countries around the globe. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, and operating as the largest U.S. exchange program, the Fulbright program awards more than 2,200 grants in all fields of study.
Appalachian State University is pleased to announce that six undergraduate and graduate students have been named Fulbright U.S. Student semi-finalists from the U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement as well as a record of service and leadership potential in their respective fields.
App State is one of 17 higher education institutions recognized nationally as a top producer of Fulbright scholars and students for 2020–21. Three App State faculty and five alumnae received the prestigious award during the 2020–21 award cycle.
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 Appalachian State University
As a premier public institution, 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.
“We at App State give each of our applicants extraordinary support, including reading drafts of application essays and providing feedback. During this process, students come to discover how they can contribute to the Fulbright mission while at the same time developing themselves for a successful future.”
Dr. Jefford Vahlbusch, interim adviser for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program at App State, dean of App State’s Honors College and professor of German
“The amount of support given to Fulbright applicants by faculty and staff at Appalachian State University is unparalleled.”
App State alumnus and Fulbright recipient Andrew Williard ’22
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers recent graduates and graduate students research, study, and teaching opportunities in more than 140 countries around the globe. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, and operating as the largest U.S. exchange program, the Fulbright program awards more than 2,200 grants in all fields of study.
Appalachian State University is pleased to announce that six undergraduate and graduate students have been named Fulbright U.S. Student semi-finalists from the U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement as well as a record of service and leadership potential in their respective fields.
App State is one of 17 higher education institutions recognized nationally as a top producer of Fulbright scholars and students for 2020–21. Three App State faculty and five alumnae received the prestigious award during the 2020–21 award cycle.
Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.
If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:
Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.
If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:
Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
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