Six Macalester students and one recent graduate receive 2024 Fulbright awards

Six Macalester seniors Jane Skjonsby ‘24, Zoe Scheuerman ’24, Rio Osorio Nava ’24, Carly Carte ’24, Daisy Alcantar ’24, and Madeline Wayne ’24 as well as recent graduate Ronan Wallace ’22, have received Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards for the 2024-2025 academic year from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. 

As Fulbright participants, all recipients will study, conduct research, and teach abroad for the 2024-2025 academic year through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program or related Fulbright partnerships abroad. Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected in an open, merit-based competition that considers leadership potential, academic and/or professional achievement, and record of service. As Fulbright alumni, their careers are enriched by joining a network of thousands of esteemed alumni, many of whom are leaders in their fields. Fulbright alumni include 61 Nobel Prize laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize recipients, and 40 who have served as a head of state or government.

Five students received awards for English Teaching Assistantships: 

• Jane Skjonsby will teach English in Spain. 
• Rio Osorio Nava and Daisy Alcantar will teach English in Mexico. 
• Carly Carte and Madeline Wayne will teach English in Senegal.

One student received a Combined Grant:

• Zoe Scheuerman will teach English and complete an internship in Austria. 

One student received a Research/Study grant: 

• Ronan Wallace will conduct research in computer science in Nepal. 

Additionally, a record 16 out of 23 applicants from Macalester were named semifinalists. 

“I’m so proud to see Macalester’s long tradition of being a top-producer of student Fulbright recipients continue with these four seniors and a recent graduate,” said President Suzanne Rivera. “I trust the Fulbright program will offer them an invaluable opportunity to experience the world and work to make it better.”

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program and is supported by the people of the United States and partner countries around the world. The Fulbright Program is funded through an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the Program.

Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 400,000 participants from over 160 countries the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. The primary source of funding for the Fulbright program is an annual appropriation by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations and foundations in foreign countries and in the United States also provide direct and indirect support.  

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is administered at Macalester through Dr. Ann Minnick in Academic Programs and Advising.