Two Coe College seniors awarded prestigious Fulbright grants
Allison Stubbs ’19 (left) and
Hayley Walton ’19
Allison Stubbs ’19 and Hayley Walton ’19 recently discovered they are headed abroad for the 2019-20 academic year. Both Coe seniors received prestigious Fulbright grants for English Teaching Assistantships. Stubbs and Walton join the elite group of 26 Coe graduates to receive Fulbrights in the past seven years.
As the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program, the Fulbright is the most widely recognized and prestigious international exchange program in the world. The Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship program offers recent college graduates the opportunity to teach in primary and secondary schools across the globe.
Stubbs, a biology and neuroscience major, is headed to the La Roja province in northern Spain. “After I fulfill my Fulbright, I hope to study occupational therapy, eventually working with elementary-age children with disabilities,” Stubbs said. “Having the Fulbright experience will be a great way for me to get used to an educational environment.”
Walton, an international business and psychology major and economics minor, will complete her Fulbright assignment in Vidin, Bulgaria. After spending two May terms studying abroad, Walton was convinced she needed to spend additional time overseas. “Coe has given me a passion for connecting with others, giving back to my community and learning,” Walton said. “These qualities will be indispensable to my experience as an English teacher in a country that is new to me.”
Coe Fulbright applicants and recipients receive guidance from Professor Amber Shaw, who serves as the college's national fellowship advisor, as well as other faculty members. “Allison and Hayley have joined an impressive group of Coe students and alumni who have received Fulbright awards,” Shaw said. “Their commitment to cultural exchange and service exemplifies Coe's mission to prepare students for meaningful lives and fulfilling careers in a diverse, interconnected world. We are so proud of them.”
Coe College continues to be a top producer to Fulbright recipients and is included among the U.S. colleges and universities that produced the most 2018-19 Fulbright recipients. The college has been recognized on this list for five of the past seven years, positioning Coe among the top 12 Fulbright-producing bachelor’s institutions in the nation.
Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 390,000 participants the opportunity to exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. Approximately 2,000 U.S. students, artists and young professionals in all fields of study are offered Fulbright Program grants to study, teach English and conduct research abroad each year. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program operates in over 140 countries throughout the world.
Coe College offers superb academics and exciting co-curricular activities in a thriving urban setting that promotes student growth and success. Established in 1851, Coe has a national reputation for academic excellence enhanced by a student-centered, highly supportive campus environment. Coe’s vibrant Cedar Rapids location provides an abundance of internships for students and career opportunities for graduates.