Two North Central College students earn Fulbright English Teaching Assistantships

Two students who will graduate from North Central College this year have been awarded prestigious Fulbright English Teaching Assistantships (ETA).

The latest Fulbright honors for Heidi Nelson ’15 of Carol Stream and Kristin Rose ’15 of Joliet are the 10th and 11th Fulbright awards earned by North Central College students and alumni. North Central College has been recognized as among the U.S. colleges and universities that produce the highest number of Fulbright recipients for 2014-2015 international exchanges.

“Fulbright awards are among the most prestigious national scholarships available to undergraduate students across the country, proof that our top students and alumni can compete with the best and brightest undergrads from coast to coast—and win,” says Perry Hamalis, Cecelia Schneller Mueller Professor of Religion, associate professor of religion and director of the College Honors Programs.

Nelson, a graduate of Glenbard West High School, is double-majoring in elementary education and Spanish with a minor in English language learning (ELL). She studied abroad for one semester in Costa Rica and for another semester in Peru. She is president of Alpha Delta Delta, North Central College’s chapter of the international education honor society Kappa Delta Pi. She has been a leader in North Central’s Junior/Senior Scholars program and a member of the Teach First program, Women’s Chorale and Blue Key Honor Society, among several other leadership and cocurricular experiences.

“North Central has provided me with many rich opportunities to complement my undergraduate education,” Nelson says. “My experiences studying abroad allow me to bring global awareness to the classroom by inspiring and opening my students’ minds to endless opportunities.”

Upon graduating from North Central College in December, Nelson’s Fulbright ETA will take her to Argentina in spring 2016, where she will teach future English teachers, continue to study Spanish and engage in cultural exchange programs with the local community. Nelson will be awarded nearly $30,000 in financial support during her eight months of teaching.

Rose, a graduate of Plainfield Central High School, is a College Scholar who is majoring in English studies. She tutors participants in the College’s English Language Institute and studied abroad for a semester in England. She has participated in many performances by various North Central musical ensembles and serves as music coordinator for Focus, a weekly student-led worship service.

“Working at North Central’s English Language Institute has prepared me to serve as an ETA,” Rose says. “Through teaching, tutoring responsibilities and leading conversation lunches I have learned about the unique needs of English language learners. I discovered that helping these students improve their English is extremely rewarding.”

Rose will graduate from North Central College in June and her Fulbright ETA will take her to the Slovak Republic in fall 2015, where she will teach English to high school students and engage in cultural exchange programs with the local community. Rose will receive nearly $35,000 in financial support during her 10 months of teaching.

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program. More than 1,800 U.S. students, artists and young professionals in more than 100 different fields of study are offered Fulbright Program grants annually to study, teach English and conduct research. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program operates in more than 140 countries throughout the world.

North Central’s Fulbright winners:
2015: Heidi Nelson, Kristin Rose
2014: Britney Kravish, Ian Wright, Mark Zajac
2012: Hemma Mistry
2010: Parker Gadbois
2009: Claudia Chlebek
2004: Rose Raymond
1996: Jamison Steinke
1994: Janet Bernhardy