Temple University was recognized for the fourth time by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs as a Fulbright U.S. Student Program Top Producing Institution. The distinction was announced in a special listing published by the Chronicle of Higher Education. Temple was one of only 56 doctoral degree-providing institutions in the United States to receive this honor.

“This year’s Fulbright recipients are extraordinary, and we celebrate their individual accomplishments,” said Provost Gregory N. Mandel. “Temple University continues to be a place where ambition is realized, and global leadership and academic excellence thrive. Being a Fulbright Scholar is a life-changing opportunity, and I know that Temple students will embrace it and leave a lasting positive impact on the world around them.”

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides funding to conduct research or creative projects, pursue graduate study, or teach English abroad. During their grants, Fulbright recipients meet, work, live with and learn from the people of the host country, sharing daily experiences.

“This cohort of Temple Fulbright recipients applied for the Fulbright during the height of the pandemic,” said Barbara Gorka, director of Scholar Development and Fellowships Advising at Temple University. “In the months leading up to the deadline, they did not know for certain whether their Fulbrights would run a year later. Despite this uncertainty, they dedicated months of hard work making contacts in their host countries, improving their language proficiency, gaining more experience and revising their essays. All of our applicants (those who were selected and those who were not) showed amazing perseverance, diligence and flexibility. I am delighted that so many of our applicants were selected and that they are currently abroad fulfilling their Fulbright dreams.”

Temple’s current class of Fulbright recipients ties a university record, with 16 students once again carrying the distinction. An additional three students have been named Fulbright alternates.

“This achievement could not have been possible without the many campus partners and Temple Fulbright alumni who have helped shepherd our students through the Fulbright application process,” added Gorka.

Fulbright scholarships have taken Temple students and alumni across the globe with this year’s class visiting locations that include Taiwan, Jamaica, Germany, Brazil, Hungary, Denmark, Kosovo, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Ireland and Mexico. This year’s Fulbright recipients include the following.

• Malene Barnett, MFA, TYL ’22, Fulbright arts/research grant, Jamaica
• Kristi Bezhani, CLA ’18, Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA), Germany
• Samuel Blair, CLA ’20, Fulbright ETA, Brazil
• Michael Capaldi, EDU ’21, Fulbright ETA, Hungary
• Jonathan Falciani, CST ’21, Fulbright research grant, Denmark
• Michelle Hurtubise, College of Liberal Arts PhD candidate (Anthropology), Fulbright research grant, Canada  
• Hailee Scarafile, CPH ’21, Fulbright graduate degree grant, U.K.  
• Colin Murray, Boyer PhD candidate (dance), Fulbright research grant, France  
• Abbey Muza, MFA, TYL ’22, Fulbright arts/research grant, France  
• Lauren Nolan, CLA ’22, Fulbright ETA, Taiwan  
• Kathryn Perrone, CLA ’22, Fulbright graduate degree grant, Ireland  
• Rose Peterschmidt, CLA ’21, Fulbright graduate degree grant, U.K.  
• Navya Reddy, FOX ’18, Fulbright Binational Internship Program, Mexico  
• Samantha Sprechman, CLA ’22, Fulbright ETA, Taiwan 
• Coral Zayas-Colon, College of Liberal Arts PhD candidate (Spanish), Fulbright research grant, Uruguay (declined award) 

“When we discuss Temple University, we often mention terms like grit and perseverance, and both of those terms are really applicable to our Fulbright recipients,” said Karin Mormando, director of admissions at Temple University. “So much has gone into them reaching this point and they play a key role in helping define Temple’s place as a global center of excellence. Our Fulbright footprint continues to grow, and we hope that continues to be the case for years to come.”

The Fulbright competition is administered at Temple through Scholar Development and Fellowships Advising. There are numerous Fulbright information sessions approaching, including one held on March 29 and another on March 30. Juniors, seniors, graduate students and recent alumni are encouraged to participate. Learn more about how Temple’s Office of Scholar Development and Fellowships Advising helps students apply for Fulbright scholarships and other external awards.