By Laurel Bennett, Features Editor
The winners of the highly prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program at Gettysburg College have recently been announced. Peter Wildgruber ’24 (Austria), Leila Elshehawy ’24 (Palestine) and Anna Benson ’23 (Argentina) were selected. Lupe Lazaro ’24 was named an alternate to Spain, which is the most competitive country.
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides information about its purpose: “The Fulbright U.S. Student Program expands perspectives through academic and professional advancement and cross-cultural dialogue. Fulbright creates connections in a complex and changing world. In partnership with more than 140 countries worldwide, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers unparalleled opportunities in all academic disciplines to passionate and accomplished graduating college seniors, graduate students, and young professionals from all backgrounds. Program participants pursue graduate study, conduct research or teach English abroad.”
The website continues with its mission by stating, “During their grants, Fulbrighters will meet, work, live with and learn from the people of the host country, sharing daily experiences. The program facilitates cultural exchange through direct interaction on an individual basis in the classroom, field, home, and in routine tasks, allowing the grantee to gain an appreciation of others’ viewpoints and beliefs, the way they do things, and the way they think. Through engagement in the community, individuals will interact with their hosts on a one-to-one basis in an atmosphere of openness, academic integrity, and intellectual freedom, thereby promoting mutual understanding.”
Interim Director for the Center for Global Education Jesse Phillips is excited to see that Gettysburg College students are applying for Fulbright Scholarships again.
Phillips said, “Our commitment to global citizenship, excellent language programs, exceptional faculty and the new Pathways makes our students an excellent fit for this prestigious scholarship.”
Wildgruber is looking forward to his upcoming experiences in Austria. He was not aware of the Fulbright program and its offerings until Assistant Professor of German Studies Tres Lambert encouraged him to apply. Lambert provided excellent guidance to Wildgruber as he had completed the same program.
Wildgruber explained, “I was drawn to Fulbright because I wanted to use my German to do research abroad. Austria’s Combined Grant checked all the boxes for me—it’s designed for recent undergraduates, blends a Teaching Assistantship with the research and University enrollment of other competitive grants, and would enable me to live and work in Vienna.”
Given that Wildgruber has not decided what career path he wishes to take, he wants to sample research, teaching, curation and more while in Vienna. His study abroad experiences in Vienna were instrumental. A professor that Wildgruber had while studying abroad put him in contact with a curator at the Jewish Museum of Vienna. As this curator wanted to support a researcher, Wildgruber began creating his project.
Wildgruber said, “The host institution and location informed my project proposal. I applied to research the most important Jewish neighborhood in Vienna, Leopoldstadt, in the nineteenth century. The writing process for the personal statement and statement of grant purpose was quite strenuous. I wrote dozens of drafts and met with professors over and over again to get feedback, tremendously strengthening my application.”
He continued, “The interview was less stressful than I expected. A panel of Gettysburg faculty asked me what I believe the goal of a Fulbright is, how I will cope with homesickness and similar questions. After submitting, it was just a matter of waiting to hear back.”
Following graduation, Wildgruber will be doing research over the summer for the Civil War Institute and will also help with a summer camp for the Young Civil War Historians conference.
“In mid-September, I will depart for Vienna, begin orientation and start teaching in October. After I return in June I intend to begin law school in the United States,” Wildgruber said.
Rising seniors interested in participating in the Fulbright U.S. Student Program for their gap year can reach out to the Center for Career Engagement.
