Three GVSU alumni earn competitive Fulbright grants

Three Grand Valley State University alumni have been awarded 2016-17 Fulbright U.S. Student Program grants to teach English overseas. 

They were selected as part of a highly competitive application process for the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) program. 

Megan Rodawold, '16, from Aurora, Illinois, completed her ETA in the Czech Republic. She studied writing, international relations and applied linguistics at Grand Valley.

David Gonzales, '16, from Jackson, Michigan, completed his ETA in Brazil. He studied Spanish and international relations at Grand Valley.

Spencer Santa Coloma, '12, from Howell, Michigan, planned to complete his ETA in Turkey, but was unable to complete the program after it was discontinued in the country. He is serving in the Peace Corps.

Another alumna, Rebecca Vu, '15, from Hudsonville, Michigan, was selected as a semifinalist for the ETA program.

The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant program places grantees in schools overseas to supplement local English language instruction and to provide a native speaker presence in classrooms. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program also offers other types of grants, including study/research and travel grants. For more information on the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, visit http://us.fulbrightonline.org/.

Graduating seniors and alumni who are interested in applying for the U.S. Student Fulbright Program to serve as an English Teaching Assistant or to conduct study/research should contact the Frederik Meijer Office of Fellowships at [email protected], (616) 331-2699, or by visiting 230 Mary Idema Pew Library.