Ruth Conkling Receives Fulbright Award to Germany

St. Paul, Minn. – Ruth Conkling, of Norfolk, Va., has been awarded a Fulbright U.S. Student Program scholarship to Germany.  Conkling will graduate at Macalester College’s 122nd commencement on May 14, 2011.

Conkling, a double major in German Studies and Biology, will spend up to 12 hours each week assisting in the teaching of American Studies, including English Language, at a German high school.  She will also investigate contemporary German literature and how Germans are reacting to their recent past, including the events surrounding WWII as well as German reunification. 

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers fellowships for U.S. graduating seniors, graduate students, young professionals and artists to study abroad for one academic year. The Program also includes the English Teaching Assistant component.

“This coming year will be a step toward my future career,” said Conkling.  “I plan to pursue a career in education, and working as an English Language Teaching Assistant will propel me in that direction.”

Conkling is one of approximately 1,500 U.S. citizens who will travel abroad for the 2011-2012 academic year through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.  Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields.

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The primary source of funding for the Fulbright Program is an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State, 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 Program operates in more than 155 countries worldwide.

Since its establishment in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, the Fulbright Program has given approximately 300,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists, and scientists the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. 

Macalester College, founded in 1874, is a national liberal arts college with a full-time enrollment of 1,958 students. Macalester is nationally recognized for its long-standing commitment to academic excellence, internationalism, multiculturalism and civic engagement.  Learn more at macalester.edu