News and Updates from ONF at FSU

Letter from the Editor Congratulations to all of our students who recently graduated! We’re so proud of your success. Here at ONF, we are in full-swing of our Fulbright application season, and we are surrounded by students with inspiring energy who want to go abroad and pursue research, teaching, and creative projects. We hope you’ll consider applying – more details below! If you haven’t had an appointment in a while, please be in touch with your ONF Advisor this week to have priority in terms of scheduling an appointment – you all know how quickly our schedules are filled! Be sure to share this newsletter with your classmates, your friends, and your social media contacts. We’re always interested in broadening our reach and working with more fantastic students like you. Continue to refer your friends to our Facebook page to stay informed about new events! Thanks for reading! With lots of ONF love, Emily Daina Saras, Assistant Director at ONF ONF Newsletter Editor-in-Chief esaras@fsu.edu || 850 645 1855 || www.onf.fsu.edu

Fast Fulbright Update: Intent to Participate and Application Portal Open Now!

We can’t wait to work with you on Fulbright applications – in fact, we’ve already started working with over sixty of you on essays and project planning! This year, we require our Fulbright applicants to submit an Intent to Participate as a part of our online registration process. Click Here to Complete the Intent to Participate (~15 min) Learn More about Fulbright Fellowships here

Quote of the Month

“Hardships often prepare an ordinary person for an extraordinary destiny.”

– C.S. Lewis, contributed by Michelle Sauer, Summer Intern

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Office of National Fellowships Florida State University Honors, Scholars, and Fellows House June 2015

Student Spotlight: Debbie Alfred Public Policy and International Affairs Program Recipient

Debbie has been interested in education policy for a greater part of her life. Her experiences in Haiti and the United States have given her a unique perspective. “I grew up in an underdeveloped country and completed my education in a first-world nation,” she explained. “I have seen the differences in both systems and want to work toward closing the gap.” However, she did not see it as a career goal when she applied to colleges. Originally intending to earn a degree in engineering, it was not until she participated in the

Service Leadership Seminar before the beginning of her freshman year that she understood just how much she valued education. Focusing her extracurricular activities on her passion, Debbie has interned with Senator John Legg, Education Chair of the Florida Senate, and tutored migrant farmers in English through the Panhandle Area Education Consortium (PAEC). In the fall of her junior year, after prodding from her roommate, she decided to meet with an advisor in ONF. Eventually, she applied for and was invited to participate in the Public Policy & International Affairs Junior Summer Institute. Next week, Debbie will begin her fellowship experience at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, taking graduate-level courses focused on public policy, leadership, and international affairs with nineteen other PPIA Fellows. Reflecting on her experience working with The Office of National Fellowships, Debbie said, “The work that ONF does is amazing. A lot of students have a tendency to rule themselves out. I used to look at past recipients – I saw their accomplishments and compared my experiences to theirs. If we were not similar, I ruled myself out. But ONF encourages you to recognize the uniqueness of your own experiences and introduces fellowships that are appropriate for you.” Debbie intends to graduate in the Fall 2015 or Spring 2016 with degrees in Finance and Management Information Systems. She has minored in French and spent Fall 2014 in Paris, France taking courses and volunteering as an English teacher. Her goal is to earn a Master’s degree in Education Policy or International Affairs before beginning her career in a federal organization like USAID. She wants her career to focus on education within developing countries. In addition to applying for graduate school and continuing her extracurricular activities, Debbie is looking at other fellowship opportunities to apply for this year. Right now, she is working on a Fulbright application and is also considering the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Internship Program. When asked what tips she would give to others applying for fellowships she referred to an FSU and ONF alumna, “Taylor Adams said it was about how you tell your story. Be genuine about your passion.” Great job, Debbie! Have a good time at the Junior Summer Institute! - Josh Stanek, Associate Director

Ten FSU Students and Alumni Win Fulbright Grants Florida State University 24/7 News, Amy Farnum-Patronis, June 2, 2015 Meet this year’s winners of Fulbright grants from Florida State University! Four of FSU’s recipients earned academic study/research grants to work on their own projects at foreign universities. Six of Florida State’s recipients will participate in the English Teaching Assistant Program, which places Fulbright Fellows in classrooms abroad to provide assistance to local English teachers. The teaching assistants help teach the English language while serving as cultural ambassadors for the United States.

Carolina Alarcon, a doctoral candidate, received an academic research grant to complete her research on 16th century medical knowledge in Spain. Her research examines how printed images effectively interpreted and broadcasted early modern understandings of medicine and anatomy. “I am extremely honored to have been given the opportunity to take part in the Fulbright program. I am grateful for the wonderful support from my adviser Dr. Stephanie Leitch, the members of my doctoral committee and the FSU Art History Department. Having an

entire academic year to focus solely on my research in Spain is a tremendous opportunity, and I am thrilled to have been selected to participate.”

Charlie Beckerman, 31, from San Francisco and New York, received an academic grant to study at the University of Sussex in Brighton, England. Beckerman graduated in August 2014 with a master’s degree in creative writing. “I am beyond excited to be traveling to the United Kingdom with the Fulbright Program. I will be doing research in Brighton and London on life during the early years of World War II as part of a future novel project. Doing this kind of research is an unbelievable opportunity, and I'm so grateful for Fulbright for helping me realize

this goal.”

Frances Falling, 23, from Melbourne, Fla., received a study grant to conduct research on three youth choirs in Germany. Falling graduated with honors in December 2014 with bachelor’s degrees in choral music education and environmental studies. “In my field research, I will spend a significant amount of time with each choir —listening, observing and conducting interviews. With new generations becoming more globally focused and engaged, it raises the question of how cultures can possibly retain their specialness. One answer to that is to listen to

what their children are singing.”

Daniel Ruiz, 22, from Orlando, Fla., graduated in May with bachelor’s degrees in creative writing and Spanish. He received an academic research grant to study at La Universidad de Playa Ancha in Valparaíso, Chile. “My work is in poetry, and Chile has boasted two Nobel laureates in poetry (Gabriela Mistral and Pablo Neruda), but that’s just scratching the surface of a country with a vast history filled with innovative poets — all of whom, in one way or another, devoted much of their body of work to the cultural and political climates of Chile while

using the beautiful country’s diverse geography as a backdrop. In Chile, I will be writing a book of poems — half in English, half in Spanish — that explores these same climates from the perspective of a foreigner who is lucky enough to get the inside scoop on such a magical place.”

Alexis Cherry, 22, from Tampa, Fla., graduated in December 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in international affairs and economics. She will teach English in Turkey. “It’s such an honor for me to be selected as a Fulbright Scholar. This will be my first chance to work in an intercultural and international environment. I’m excited to become part of a Turkish community in order to form strong relationships and promote cultural diplomacy.”

Nia Dickens, 21, from University Place, Wash., graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in creative writing. She will travel to Belgium to teach English. “As a child, my mother always encouraged me to have a love for travel and be open to exploring new places, so for me being selected as a Fulbright scholar just feels like the manifestation of one my childhood goals. I can’t wait to see where this adventure takes me. As a writer, my primary goal in teaching abroad is to open myself to not simply cultural exchange

but to storytelling in Belgium and the diverse cultural perspectives that encompass the country.”

Erica Fedor, 24, from Ellicott City, Md., graduated in May with a master’s degree in ethnomusicology. She will teach English in the Czech Republic. “Getting to teach English in the Czech Republic as a Fulbright grantee is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Sen. Fulbright’s vision was to ‘expand the boundaries of human wisdom and empathy,’ and I am so excited to build meaningful relationships with my neighbors in Dobruška both in and out of the classroom while working on pre-dissertation research regarding bluegrass in the Czech Republic.”

Lacy Goode, 22, from Tallahassee, graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and she will teach English in Taiwan. “I am so thrilled to have the opportunity to embark on this journey to the beautiful country of Taiwan. I cannot wait to both teach and learn from my students. I hope to uphold Fulbright’s mission of fostering mutual understanding and increasing international ties by engaging with the individuals in Taiwan in and out of the classroom."

Robert Haley, 23, from Greenville, S.C., graduated in May 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in international affairs. He will teach English in Taiwan. “My goals are to gain a deeper understanding of political activism among Taiwan’s youth, while improving my Chinese language proficiency. The year spent living and working in Taiwan will provide me with the further knowledge and experiences that will benefit me as I pursue advance degrees. Overall, I hope to increase the cultural and linguistic ties between Taiwan and America by

helping teach English to the next generation of Taiwanese leaders. Personally, I hope to establish relationships that matter for years and years to come.”

Kendra Mitchell, 35, from Tallahassee will travel to South Africa to teach English. She has already earned a master’s degree in English, and will complete her Ph.D. in English this fall. “My dissertation research describes instances of multilingualism among African-American students in the FAMU Writing Resource Center, and now I get to expand my experience in a country with 11 official languages. I am drawn to this country because I marvel at the people’s resilience despite systemic oppression. The learning opportunities are endless and I hope to contribute as much I will gain.”

Getting Engaged on Campus: What is Your Leadership Style?

One of the most important qualifications for nationally-competitive fellowships is demonstrated leadership ability. However, there is no one right way to be a leader! All leadership styles are important to creating a healthy and productive team – what skills do you bring to leadership positions here on campus? What new leadership styles would you like to practice? What new organizations would like to be a leader in?

Emily Daina Šaras, Assistant Director, and Michelle Sauer, Summer Intern Office of National Fellowships | Florida State University | Email: esaras@fsu.edu and mls11f@my.fsu.edu | Website: www.onf.fsu.edu

Inspirations and Motivations

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“We must dare to think 'unthinkable' thoughts. We must learn to explore all the options and possibilities that confront us in

a complex and rapidly changing world.”

– Senator J. William Fulbright

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“Some people feel the rain, Others just get wet.”

– Bob Marley, Submitted by Daschielle Louis

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“Never be afraid to ask questions.”

– Ausar Amadi

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“Inspiration comes, But it must find you working.”

– Pablo Picasso, Submitted by Daniel Ruiz

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“It is not the years in your life that counts –

but the life in your years.”

– Edward J. Stieglitz, Submitted by Daniel Stribling