Raeann Boero is chosen for Fulbright award

2017 May 15

Raeann Boero 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.

Boero 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.

Boero, an anthropology and sociology major, will be teaching English in Malaysia.

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, Boero pursued a variety of opportunities. Boero completed an internship in India. She also played the trumpet in the Knox Jazz Ensemble and New Orleans Jazz Combo, and was a member of APO. She currently works at the Kleine Center for Community Service and CASA of West Central Illinois.

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.