Two recent Spartan graduates, Kyle Kostenko and Colin Cutler, have received prestigious Fulbright Scholarships to teach and research abroad during the 2019-20 academic year.
The Fulbright Student Program, the largest international exchange program in the country, offers opportunities for recent graduates in more than 140 countries. Fulbright grants are selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields, and are sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
“As stated in the University’s mission and vision statement, ‘UNCG is committed to being a global university integrating intercultural and international experiences and perspectives into learning, discovery, and service.’ We applaud these students who will take the knowledge they acquired at UNCG and apply it overseas. Being selected for the Fulbright Student Award is an outstanding achievement which speaks highly of their character and abilities,” says Patrick Lilja, UNCG Coordinator of Prestigious International/National Fellowships and Fulbright Program Advisor.
Coincidentally, both award recipients will travel to and work in Romania.
Kyle Kostenko (Master of Music, Music Performance ‘19) will research and collect experimental and contemporary music composed for clarinet by Romanian composers. His ultimate goal is to produce a collection of representative works for dissemination in the United States and internationally.
Colin Cutler (Master of Arts, English ‘16) will work as an English Teaching Assistant at Universitatea Lucian Blaga in Sibiu, a small city in the south of Transylvania. As a guitarist, banjo player, and singer, he will share what he learned about old time blues and Appalachian music in the Piedmont Oldtime Society and UNCG Old Time Ensemble through lectures, workshops, and community events in and around Sibiu.
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards approximately 1,900 grants annually in all fields of study, with recent graduates and graduate students undertaking international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching and primary and secondary teaching worldwide. Founded in 1946, the Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.
UNCG students and recent alums interested in the Fulbright program or other nationally competitive fellowships are invited to visit the Prestigious International/National Fellowships webpage and submit an inquiry form to request an advising appointment.
