The University of Louisville Alumni Magazine: for alumni, faculty, staff, students and anyone that is a UofL Cardinal fan.
Issue link: https://louisville.epubxp.com/i/43017
to have had their help through the application process. They were there every step of the way and have done an amazing job prepar- ing all of us for our Fulbright experience." CHELSEY HALL Chelsey Hall is from Brooks, Ky. She is a 2011 graduate with a degree in economics and is teaching English to students in Macau. "Although the University of Louisville hosts thousands of students, the faculty make the large campus feel more like a family. Applying for this scholarship took many hours spread across several weeks, and each step of the way Dr. Condon, Seabrook Jones, and so many other faces were volunteering their services to ensure the success of myself and many others applying for scholarships. The extra effort, encouragement and assistance from those who will not be boarding the plane with me summed up just how wonderful my four years at UofL have been. From Ivy League – caliber seminars as part of the McConnell Scholars program to Chinese language classes, and so much more, I am grateful for all UofL has done to prepare me for my next adventure. The dedication my alma mater has to its students goes to show that it's more than just a slogan — it really is happening here." all experiences which have expanded my knowledge and increased my curiosity of the world beyond our borders. My political science courses, particularly those dealing with international issues, have provided me with the conceptual framework to analyze and explore political and historical issues meaningfully and academically. My philosophy courses have allowed me to understand the development of ideologies and the importance of their implications upon the political and cultural landscape of a place, as well as providing me with the cognitive background necessary to examine such ideas critically." CYNTHIA MARTINEZ QUENTIN JOHNSON Quentin Johnson is a 2011 summa cum laude graduate who majored in political science. He is from Symsonia, Ky., and is teaching English in Malaysia. "The University of Louisville provides plenty of resources for its students. The only requirement is that the student has the desire to seek these services and the individuals at the university who know how to get a student from point A to point B. I was lucky because of the support and chal- lenges I received from friends in the Honors program and the guidance I received from those at UofL. My honors adviser, Luke Buckman, helped me plan my four years at UofL in a way that would be academically challenging and rewarding. Ultimately, this put me in a position to walk into the offi ce of Dr. Patricia Condon and discuss my plans for the future and the possibility of winning a competitive national scholarship. Seek out your opportunity and go visit Dr. Condon; it may just change your life." CHARLES HELMS Charles Helms will teach English in Kosovo. A 2011 graduate in political science, he is from Owensboro, Ky. "Through the McConnell scholarship program I have been exposed to viewpoints and fi elds of study I otherwise might never have explored, including various areas of history and political science. With the generous fi nancial support of the Center, I have been able to follow these new curiosities through a semester in Greece, six weeks in China and six weeks in Turkey, 30|LOUISVILLE.EDU Cynthia Martinez of Louisville is teaching English to students in Brazil. She is a lecturer in the Department of Classical and Modern Languages and is a 2010 master's graduate in Spanish. "For years, I have been interested in teach- ing abroad. I have always known Fulbright to be a prestigious and highly recognized program that I feel lucky to get to be a part of. My particular interests in Brazil lie in the country's language, culture and people. As a student of Spanish and the culture of Latin America, I've developed an interest in the Portuguese language and will certainly be able to practice it by living in Brazil for nine months! Also, through my previous visits to Brazil, I've been fascinated by sev- eral facets of the country's culture; namely the mixture of peoples that have come to represent Brazilian culture." JULIANNE NGUYEN Julianne Nguyen is a native of Union, Ky., and received her degree in English. She is teaching English to students in Madrid, Spain. "My yearlong studies abroad in China and Chile are good preparation for my Fulbright experience. Being an English major has honed my reading, writing and English skills to give me the tools I need to be a good English teacher. I wanted to go to Spain to improve my Spanish and have the chance to explore Europe. I am excited about being surrounded by Spanish so that I am forced to use the Spanish I have and improve it." ERICA SUMME NICOLE MORAN Nicole Moran is teaching English in a rural province of Malaysia. She is a 2011 summa cum laude graduate with majors in English, history and humanities, and hails from Alexandria, Ky. "I chose to apply for an ETA Malaysia because I was fascinated by the demo- graphics of the population. Malaysia is a Muslim country ruled by Sharia law and has a culture infl uenced by nearby countries. Malaysia's population consists of indig- enous Malays, Buddhist immigrants from China and Hindu immigrants from India. While teaching English in Malaysia, I plan to look at the infl uence immigrant culture has had on indigenous folklore and fairytales, and encourage my students to use their own knowledge of Malaysian folk culture to practice their English skills." Erica Summe is an English language learning assistant at an English teacher training college in Argentina. A 2011 graduate in political science and Spanish, she is from Florence, Ky. "There are many elements from my time at the University of Louisville that helped to prepare me for this scholarship experience. Through the Spanish, political science and Latin Ameri- can studies departments, I have had many courses concerning Latin American politics, culture and language. Furthermore, I have pursued internships at the Americana Commu- nity Center, which have given me experiences teaching English as a second language to newly arrived refugees and immigrants. This has allowed me to develop creative teaching ideas to utilize in Argentina. I also interned at La Casa Latina and that allowed me to practice my Spanish skills outside the classroom, as well as help the Hispanic community in Louis- ville. Additionally, the continuous support of my professors was vital throughout my Fulbright journey. UofL has certainly contributed to my personal growth, and I am not sure if I would have considered applying for such a daunting, yet truly rewarding, scholarship had it not been for the great opportunities I have had here over the past four years."