UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. —Eight Penn Staters were named finalists for the 2025-26 Fulbright U.S. Student Program, with another three named as alternates.
Each year, the U.S. Department of State works with its 140 partner countries to give graduating college seniors, graduate students and young professionals the opportunity to work, live and learn abroad.
The 2025-26 finalists from Penn State are:
- Grace Behr, class of 2025, psychology (minor in global health), Study/Research Award, Netherlands
- Sarah Chekan, mechanical engineering, Study/Research Award, Chile
- Ava Gabrys, class of 2025, biology (minor in English), Study/Research Award, Poland
- Sophie Lelei, class of 2023 data sciences, dual-title master’s and doctorate geography and African studies, English Teaching Assistant Award, Senegal
- Isaac Manfull, class of 2023 linguistics, master’s in music education, English Teaching Assistant Award, Czech Republic
- Mariana Ortiz, medicine, College of Medicine, Study/Research Award, Italy
- Felicity Sarnoff, linguistics and German (minor in French), English Teaching Assistant Award, Belgium
- Gwen Sincerbeaux, class of 2023, doctorate in nutritional sciences, Fulbright-Fogarty Fellowships in Public Health, Uganda
Alternates are applicants that will be moved to finalist status if funds become available. The following were chosen as U.S. Student Fulbright Program alternates:
- Keya Ahrestani, class of 2025, psychology (minors in child maltreatment and advocacy studies, health policy and administration, global and international studies, Spanish and Women’s Studies), English Teaching Assistant Award, Spain
- Riegen Poduszlo, class of 2025, security and risk analysis, international affairs, English Teaching Assistant Award, Taiwan
The list of alternates also includes a 2021 Penn State alumna.
How to apply
The application process for the next round of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, 2026-27, which is facilitated by the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Mentoring, began in April of this year. Interested applicants can register for an application preparation course that will run in Canvas throughout the summer. In August, candidates will sign up to participate in the on-campus interview process. Then, the deadline to submit an application for the on-campus process to the Fulbright application system will be Aug. 15 for study/research grants and Sept. 2 for English teaching assistantships. The national application deadline is Oct. 7.
Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Mentoring is part of Penn State Undergraduate Education.