LAWRENCE, Kan. — Four University of Kansas students and alumni have received prestigious Fulbright US Student Awards to study, conduct research and teach English abroad for the 2023-2024 academic year, including Pittsburg native Chloe VanBecelaere. One additional KU student was named as an alternate Fulbright recipient.
The year’s Fulbright grantees come from the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and the Schools of Education & Human Sciences and Music. Melissa Terrall will travel to Mexico to conduct research in piano, and Kate Crnkovich, Maya McDaniel and Chloe VanBecelaere will teach English in Armenia, Spain and Colombia, respectively.
“Each of these students and alumni developed an outstanding proposal to contribute to the Fulbright mission of cultural exchange through their teaching and research,” said Rachel Sherman Johnson, director of internationalization and partnerships at KU International Affairs. “Their planned projects exemplify citizen diplomacy and will strengthen the relationships between the United States and their respective host countries.”
Chloe VanBecelaere was selected for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Colombia. From Pittsburg, VanBecelaere graduated from the University of Kansas in 2022 with bachelor’s degrees in global & international studies and Spanish. She is the daughter of Diane VanBecelaere.
The other 2023-2024 Fulbright recipients and alternate:
The Fulbright program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the US government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between Americans and people of other countries. The US Student Fulbright program operates in more than 160 countries worldwide.
Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected based on academic or professional achievement, as well as their record of service and demonstrated leadership in their respective fields. Fulbright grants provide funding for round-trip travel, maintenance for one academic year, health and accident insurance and, where relevant, tuition.
Since the program’s inception in 1946, KU has had 492 students, including this year’s recipients, selected for Fulbright awards. KU International Affairs coordinates the applications for Fulbright grants.