CSB named as a top school for Fulbright scholars
The 2022 class of Fulbright scholars included five Bennies and one Johnnie. The Fulbright program provides graduated students merit-based scholarships to travel, study, research and teach while abroad.
Once again, St. Ben’s has been named a top producer of recipients of the Fulbright Scholarship. As of 2022, CSB was among one of the top producing schools of all Fulbright grantees awarded for the seventh time in the past nine years.
Since 1946, the Fulbright Scholarship has been awarded to students from all over the world for the opportunity to participate in a postgraduate educational exchange. This past year, five CSB students and one SJU student accepted the award. Each grantee is currently abroad participating in the Fulbright exchange. Among the CSB grantees is Valerie Doze, a fall 2021 graduate. Doze, a biochemistry and German double major, has found herself in central Germany. Since receiving the grant, Dozeman has been working in a biochemistry research lab experimenting on COVID.
“This lab is doing really exciting COVID research that a lot of biochemistry labs aren’t necessarily,” Doze said. “Having access to the technology they have has been really important for gaining those skills, especially as someone who doesn’t have a Masters or Ph.D. yet. It is really cool to have that experience.”
Doze encouraged all students who experience any hesitation to strongly consider applying.
“If you are able to do Fulbright, it is such an amazing opportunity to live abroad and spend a year funded, and meeting people all the time from other cultures and backgrounds,” Doze said.
Last year’s SJU grantee, Noah Knapp, has landed in Northern Macedonia. At SJU, Knapp received a degree in English with a concentration in creative writing and a minor in music. Since receiving the grant, Knapp now works teaching English to students ages 18 to 27. Knapp outlines that receiving the Fulbright grant has allowed him the opportunity to be more comfortable in a small and foreign city.
“I suppose a big thing is just a greater confidence in working with people,” Knapp said. “Some soft skills that I have gained are better verbal communication, lesson planning and being able to mentor and teach other people.”
