麻花导航

MURRAY, Ky. 鈥� Four 麻花导航 students have been awarded Fulbright scholarships. This year鈥檚 recipients of this prestigious award include Victoria Benard, Jaden Estes, Jasmine Neal and Mallory Wooldridge.

The Fulbright United States Student Program expands perspectives through academic and professional advancement and cross-culture dialogue, while creating connections in a complex and changing world. In partnership with more than 140 countries worldwide, the Fulbright Program offers unparalleled opportunities in all academic disciplines to passionate and accomplished graduating college seniors, graduate students and young professionals from all backgrounds. Program participants pursue graduate study, conduct research or teach English abroad.

Victoria (Tori) Benard, a May 2022 graduated senior from Goreville, Illinois, is the recipient of a Fulbright fellowship to serve as an English teaching assistant (ETA) in Asturias, Spain. During her time abroad, she also plans to volunteer, travel and become fully immersed in Spanish culture.

鈥淚 am beyond grateful and incredibly humbled to be a recipient of such a prestigious award,鈥� said Benard. 鈥淔our years ago, when I started at 麻花导航, I never could have imagined that I would have an opportunity like this. I鈥檓 so thankful for all of the help and support that I have received from the Honors College faculty (at Murray State University), my family and my friends. I鈥檓 sad to be moving away from my time at Murray, but it鈥檚 still so exciting to see what new adventures await in this next chapter of my life!鈥�

Jaden Estes, a May 2022 graduated senior from Paducah, Kentucky, is the recipient of a Fulbright fellowship to serve as an ETA in South Korea. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in TESOL while attending 麻花导航, best preparing her for an opportunity to live and work abroad for the 2023 school year.

鈥淚 am overjoyed to be receiving this award, as it is the culmination of everything I've worked and studied for these past few years,鈥� said Estes.

Jasmine Neal, a May 2022 graduated senior from St. Louis, Missouri, is the recipient of a Fulbright fellowship to serve as an ETA in Indonesia. While in Indonesia, she plans to create a photo exhibit to celebrate the local culture and people. Additionally, she hopes to find many ways to engage with the local community and people in order to gain perspective and understanding to a country beyond her own.

鈥淚'm incredibly grateful for being selected for such a prestigious award,鈥� said Neal. 鈥淎s a double major in International Studies and Psychology at 麻花导航, I possess a unique passion for different cultures and people. I am honored to have been granted the opportunity to experience and serve a diverse and vibrant country and community. In addition, I am thankful to be able to share my experiences and knowledge with others as a teacher and an ambassador of the United States. Overall, this is an opportunity I know I will cherish for a lifetime and the stepping stones for a bright future ahead of me."