Record Number Of Students Abroad On Fulbright Awards
29 August, 2000
University Park, PA — A record number of 21 Penn State students have received grants under the 2000-2001 Fulbright Program

Fulbright grants cover a fully funded academic year in the country of choice for graduating seniors and graduate students to conduct study, research or teaching. Former U.S. Sen. William Fulbright initiated the Fulbright program after World War II to promote world peace through the international exchange of scholars and students. Approximately 850 student grants are awarded nationwide.

"We are delighted and proud of the success of our students in the Fulbright grant program," H. Mary Gage, director of the Undergraduate Fellowships Office, said. "The number of grant recipients is above our previous high of 19. Their achievement enhances the University’s goal of increasing international experience for our students and highlights our efforts in national and international competition for major scholarships, fellowships and internships."

In addition to the Fulbright grants, Gage said Penn State students have received a Whitaker Graduate Fellowship, an Astronaut Scholarship, three American Meteorology Society (AMS) Scholarships, and three Udall Scholarships.

** Jeffrey Saucerman of York, a senior majoring in engineering science, won one of the 40 Whitaker Graduate Fellowships awarded annually in biomedical engineering. The award provides $18,500 for up to five years for the student, plus a cost of education allowance of $15,000 to the chosen institution and $1,500 for expenses such as travel, books and a computer.

** David P. Lewis of Erie, a junior in engineering science and physics, has been awarded $8,500 for his final year by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. The scholarship is given to outstanding students for innovation, creativity and unusual drive. Scholars also are given the chance to meet astronauts from the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Space Shuttle programs.

Three students were awarded $15,000 from the AMS for their first year of graduate study in the atmospheric and related oceanic and hydrological sciences. There are only twelve of these scholarships in the nation. The recipients are Kimberly Comstock of Arcade, NY, an aerospace engineering major; Scott Giangrande of Ashland, MA, a senior meteorology major, and Jonathan Vigh of Olean, NY, also a senior meteorology major. Anneliese Sherer of State College, a junior in meteorology, also was awarded an AMS Undergraduate Scholarship worth $3,000 toward her senior year.

Three students intent on working with the environment were awarded Udall Scholarships worth up to $5,000 for their senior year. Only 70 Udall Scholarships are awarded nationwide. The Penn State winners are Anne Beausang of Pottsville, a junior in geography; Benjamin Chemel of Cranberry Township, a junior science major, and Suzanne Hunt of Branchport, NY, a junior in environmental resource management.

Four Fulbright awardees are graduate students and 17 recently received baccalaureate degrees from the University. Listed below are the awardees, their hometowns, majors, fields of study or teaching, and the countries where they will study or teach.

The graduate students are:
** Rangar Cline of Oklahoma City, OK; history, research into Greek antiquities in Greece.

** Jennifer Page of Eastlake, OH; ecology; research in to root and leaf lifespans in Poland.

** Josh Rayman of Durham, NH; philosophy; research into Nietzche’s revaluation of Kantian universality in Germany.

** Robert Strobl of Philadelphia; environmental conservation; analyzing watersheds in three distinct ecoregions in Ecuador.

The recent Penn State graduates are:
** Jason Andras of Hazleton; chemistry and biology; molecular research in Australia.

** Christine Baker of Wayne; history; study of Arabic language and analysis of Sufism in Jordan.

** Erin Criswell of Dallastown; biochemistry and molecular biology; research into the dengue virus in Australia.

** Amy Davis of Marysville; math; teaching assistant in Korea.

** Elizabeth Dripps of State College; business logistics; using business logistics to help abandoned children in Romania.

**Elif Ince of Solvang, CA; biochemistry and molecular biology; cancer research in Turkey.

** Bonnie Kaplan of Walworth, NY, architectural engineering and French; historical restoration in Morocco.

** Ryan C. Kohl of Yardley; mathematics and philosophy; research to situate the foundational system of Stanislaw Lesniewski in Poland.

** Deborah Kubisiak of Pittsburgh; biochemistry and molecular biology; research at the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology in Germany.?

** Brent Little of Mercersburg; music; research into Beethoven’s settings of Scottish folk songs in Germany.

** Timothy Marx of Churchville; business administration; bi-national business grant in Mexico.

** Meredith Rogers of Yardley; secondary education; teaching assistant in France.

** Amanda Ruch of Shillington; nutrition; research into folic acid deficiency and depression in the elderly in Spain.

** Beth Seigley of Erie; elementary education; teaching assistant in Korea.

** Emily Sheesley of Southampton; German; teaching assistant in Germany.

** Michael Stitzel of Shrewsbury; biochemistry and molecular biology; research into the common fruit fly in Germany.

** Elizabeth Young of Pittsburgh; English; teaching assistant in Turkey.

Gage said the deadline for the next round of Fulbright grants is Sept. 9. She encouraged interested students to contact her office for information and applications.

Contact: Mary Gage, 814-863-8199 or e-mail at