TAMPA, Fla. (Nov. 15, 2017) – Students at the University of South Florida Tampa received more Fulbright awards than any other university in the state during the 2016-17 academic year. The group of 10 recipients represents the most Fulbright winners USF has ever had in a single year.
Sponsored by the U.S. State Department, Fulbright awards provide funding for students to conduct research, pursue a master’s degree, or teach English in a host country for up to one year. The Fulbright program currently allows USF students to work on research in Costa Rica, the Netherlands and Burkina Faso, while other students are teaching English in Bahrain, Colombia, Germany and Macau. Additionally, one student is using their Fulbright award to pursue a master’s degree in the United Kingdom.
“It is so encouraging to see these students making a difference across the globe,” said Sayan Basu, director of USF’s Office of National Scholarships, whose office on campus is a hub for student engagement, helping students achieve greater academic accomplishments and pursue competitive scholarships. “We are very proud of these Fulbright winners and look forward to seeing their bright futures.”
The award winners from USF include in-state, out-of-state and international undergraduate and graduate students. The 10 Fulbrights are among the 66 competitive national awards received by USF students during the 2016-17 academic year, the most in university history.
“At USF, our students remain at the center of all that we do. We take special pride in those who win these prestigious national and international scholarships,” Ralph Wilcox, USF provost and executive vice president, said.
The Fulbright Program has separate awards for students and faculty. Earlier this year, USF Tampa was named the top producer of faculty Fulbright Scholars for the nation, with 12 faculty members earning the award. These USF Tampa students and faculty will join a group of Fulbright alumni that includes Nobel Prize winners, heads of state, members of congress and leaders in a wide variety of fields.
The full list of USF student Fulbright winners:
- Kathryn Ashmore, home schooled, Pembroke Pines, Florida
- Clarisse Barbier, Lycee Bartholdi, Colmar, France
- Samantha Creel, Ridgeview High School, Orange Park, Florida
- Dalia Elmelige, Stanton College Preparatory, Jacksonville, Florida
- Claire Gorey, St. Viator High School, Arlington Heights, Illinois
- Carmella Guiol, Miami, Florida
- Natalie Kass, Seminole Ridge Community High School, Loxahatchee, Florida
- Kevin Orner, Eden Prairie High School, Eden Prairie, Minnesota
- Anne Shaughnessy, Palm Harbor University High School, Palm Harbor, Florida
- Pedro Zamora, Hardee Senior High School, Wauchula, Florida
About the University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, established in 1956 and located in Tampa, is a high-impact, global research university dedicated to student success. The USF System includes three, separately accredited institutions: USF; USF St. Petersburg; and USF Sarasota-Manatee. Serving more than 49,000 students, the USF System has an annual budget of $1.6 billion and an annual economic impact of $4.4 billion. USF is ranked in the top 30 nationally for research expenditures among public universities, according to the National Science Foundation. In 2016, the Florida Legislature designated USF as “Emerging Preeminent,” placing USF in an elite category among the state’s 12 public universities. USF is a member of the American Athletic Conference.
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