Wednesday, May 11, 2022
by Editorial Team
Catherine Hiebel ’22 and Melina Boutris ’22 are Southwestern University’s newest Fulbright award recipients. Hiebel, a political science and Spanish double major, will teach English in Spain through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, while Boutris, a German and education double major, will serve as an English teaching assistant in Austria through Fulbright Austria.
Catherine Hiebel ’22 will be teaching in the Canary Islands.
Melina Boutris ’22 will be teaching English at a business school in Bregenz, the capital of Vorarlberg, Austria’s westernmost state.
In addition to the two award recipients, Emma Astad ’22 and Christina Manzanares ’15 were named Fulbright U.S. Student Program semi-finalists.
“The Fulbright is among the most widely recognized and prestigious scholarships in the world,” says Associate Professor of German Erika Berroth. “Our applicants this year were smart, engaged, and passionate, and they communicated their stories and aspirations well. Preparation for the Fulbright starts with day one in college, and our finalists and semi-finalists were intentional about seeking opportunities where they could act as teachers, mentors, or guides for younger audiences throughout their college years.”
Since 1946, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program has provided more than 400,000 participants from more than 160 countries the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. Recipients are selected in an open, merit-based competition that considers leadership potential, academic and/or professional achievement, and record of service.