Imagine immersing yourself into a new culture; taking in the differences, making friends and acclimating to a new way of life. Now imagine advancing your academic career on top of that. This could sound like an intimidating feat, but two Fulbright Scholarship Finalists from the University of Nevada, Reno are embracing the opportunity this coming 2016 fall semester.

After World War II, Senator J. William Fulbright introduced the Fulbright Program, which was made for the purpose of creating peace and goodwill between countries. The program allows students to gain a better understanding of a foreign culture while studying, teaching and conducting research in their fields. The exchange of scholars allows a cycle of learning, as the community and other scholars begin to learn from one another. Currently the U.S. Student Fulbright program awards 1,900 grants annually in all fields of study in more than 140 countries worldwide.

At the University, students apply through the Office of Undergraduate and Graduate Fellowships, where the Fulbright Student Award is housed.

"The office's mission is to promote nationally competitive fellowships such as the Fulbright Student Award, the Rhodes Scholarship, the Marshall Scholarship, and other funding opportunities that support any undergraduate or graduate student at the University of Nevada, Reno, who pursue prestigious fellowships," Tamara Valentine, the director of the Honors Program at the University, said. "This office provides the guidance and supervision necessary for student applicants to put forward a competitive application for a limited number of scholarships." 

The University has been awarding students with the Fulbright Student Award since 1962. This prestigious award gives students like Athena Turek-Hankins and Daniel Saftner the chance to advance in their aspiring careers as well as learn a new culture, make new friends and embrace new experiences.

Turek-Hankins, who is a recent graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno and its Honors Program, received her bachelor's degree in international affairs, specializing in Middle Eastern affairs. She also earned a bachelor's degree in French, and a minor in philosophy of ethics, law, and politics at the University in 2016. The Fulbright scholarship will be taking Turek-Hankins to Luxembourg for the coming fall semester. In Luxembourg, she will be teaching English at either the secondary or collegiate level. 

"Winning this award is an amazing opportunity to continue my global education and commitment to working with an international community," Turek-Hankins said. "I'm excited to continue learning French and becoming acquainted with Luxembourg, who plays a major political and economic role in Europe."

Saftner, also from Reno, received a bachelor's degree in geology in 2011 with a focus on climate change. He is now pursuing his master's degree in hydrogeology from the Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences at the University.

"I spent two years in Cameroon, Africa, as a Peace Corps Volunteer, where I taught high school physics and had a few side projects related to water and sanitation," Saftner said. "When it came time to apply to graduate school, I decided I would study hydrogeology because it allowed me to use skills that I acquired as a volunteer and a student."

This coming fall, Saftner will be headed to Niger, West Africa, to research the seasonal variations of groundwater quality in rural areas of southwest Niger. He is excited to have received this scholarship as it gives him the opportunity to go back to Africa, since he enjoyed his time spent in Cameroon.

"The Fulbright award is providing me with a unique opportunity to be a part of a global effort to enhance access to safe drinking water in developing countries," Saftner said.

After Fulbright scholars finish their time abroad and return to the United States, they become representative ambassadors of the Fulbright scholarship. Their duty is to continue being engaged with foreign incoming scholars and to help other students apply to have the opportunity to teach and study abroad.

Although there were two Fulbright Scholarship finalists this year, the University also recognized one alternate candidate. These are candidates who can be promoted to finalists if additional funding becomes available. The University eagerly awaits to hear if the alternate will move to the finalist level.

To learn more about the Fulbright Program, other competitive fellowships, or to apply visit the Office of Undergraduate Fellowships website.