EM
Emily Malec
  • Twin Lake, MI

Emily Malec is chosen for Fulbright award

2017 May 15

Emily Malec is among three Knox College students and one recent alumna who were chosen for Fulbright awards to complete teaching assistantships and research for the 2017-2018 school year.

Malec is part of a select group of U.S. citizens who have been chosen to teach, conduct research, and provide expertise abroad through the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program.

Malec, a 2016 graduate who majored in Asian studies, will be teaching English in South Korea.

Mariangela Maguire, Interim Director of the Gerald & Carol Vovis Center for Research & Advanced Study, noted the significance of these awards.

"Nearly 6,000 people apply for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program each year and about 25% of applicants receive an award. Participating in the Fulbright program is a tremendous opportunity to live and work in another country, to be fully immersed in another country, and to contribute to mutual understanding across cultures," she said.

While at Knox, Malec pursued a variety of opportunities. Malec served as co-president of Japanese Club. She was a teaching assistant for the Carl Sandburg Literacy Coalition as well as at Knox and GHS North. She studied abroad in Japan during Fall 2015 and completed an ASSET research project.

Maguire mentioned some of the benefits the Fulbright program can provide students.

"Students with this experience will have stronger graduate school, fellowship, and employment applications, they'll make numerous international contacts, and gain entry into the strong Fulbright alumni network," she said.

The Fulbright operates in more than 160 countries and is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government. Fulbright recipients address critical global challenges in various subject areas, such as sustainable energy and public health, while building relationships, knowledge, and leadership in support of the long-term interests of the United States and the world.

Fulbright awards are funded by the U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Applicants are chosen according to factors such as the quality of their proposal, their academic record, and their personal qualifications.

Knox College has a long history with the Fulbright program. Since 2006, 22 Knox students have been selected for Fulbright awards. Overall, dozens of Knox students, faculty members, and alumni have received Fulbright fellowships and scholarships.