10 SDSU students named Fulbright semi-finalists
Ten San Diego State University students made the semi-finals for 2024-2025 Fulbright Scholarships, with winners expected to be announced between March and June.
This year’s semi-finalists include five students involved in research, three English teaching assistants, one language study student and one binational business undergrad. Semi-finalists are determined by Fulbright’s U.S. National Screening Committees. Applications will now be forwarded to their selected host country committees, which will select the finalists who will receive awards.
“Fulbright is extremely competitive, and it is a notable accomplishment to reach the semi-finals of this national competition,” said Cristina Alfaro, SDSU’s Associate Vice President for International Affairs. “I congratulate all who applied. SDSU’s leadership as a binational and international university aligns perfectly with Fulbright’s mission, and we are pleased that our students continue to be recognized for their collaborations with international partners.”
Operated by the U.S. Department of State to promote cultural exchange, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides grants for participants to study, pursue research or teach English abroad. It is the most prestigious international exchange program in the world, with more than 140 countries participating.
Last year, eight SDSU students submitted Fulbright applications and five made it to the semi-finals, said Yoshiko Higurashi, SDSU professor emerita of Japanese, who serves as advisor of the Fulbright Student Program. Two received Fulbright funding, with recipients traveling to South Africa and Colombia for study and community service.
This year 20 SDSU students applied for Fulbright grants, with 15 applications from women, said Higurashi.
Research semi-finalists are Meleana Akolo to study gender specific drug service in Tonga; Gabriela Contreras to explore combination methods to inhibit certain staph infections in South Korea; Gulce Ozturk to study the ecological effects of competition between native and invasive sea urchins along the Turkish coast; Arianna Spata to research reproductive and maternal health care among migrant women in Argentina; and Brianna O’Boyle for linguistics research around transportation in Toronto.
Callista Helms aims to join a binational business program in Mexico; Lojeen Ragab to study at the Cairo Advanced Arabic Studies and Immersion Center in Egypt; and Amireh Boroujeni-Ellington, Bailey Dill, and Madison Fitzpatrick to teach English in Spain, Albania, and Ecuador, respectively.
Since 2005-06, 102 SDSU students have earned Fulbright scholarships, said Higurashi.
Last fall, SDSU received the Fulbright HSI Leader designation for the third consecutive year in recognition of its strong connections with the international exchange programs. The university gained Hispanic Serving Institution recognition by the U.S. Department of Education in 2012. Hispanic/Latinx students make up about one third of the combined enrollment at SDSU’s San Diego and Imperial Valley campuses.
