Three Macalester Alumnae Receive Fulbrights

St. Paul, Minn. – Three Macalester alumnae from the class of 2015 have received Fulbright scholarships. Alejandra “Lexii” Carrillo won a Binational Business Program award to Mexico, Mary Hellmich won an English Teaching Assistantship to Spain and Sarah Shoemaker won an English Teaching Assistantship to Malaysia.  

Alejandra “Lexii” Carrillo, a double major in Sociology and Classics, a minor in Philosophy and a Legal Studies Concentration from Dearborn, Mich., won a Binational Business Program award to Mexico.  Carrillo said she could not have received this award without the support of her family and professors and considers the Fulbright an amazing opportunity to immerse herself in Mexican business culture.  “As a Binational Business Scholar, I will learn firsthand the importance of trust between companies,” said Carrillo. “Trust ultimately facilitates accountability, compromise, and transparency between businesses, the people, and the government. Most importantly, however, I will be learning about international business culture, that affects human rights and clean business practices, in a country I am passionate about—Mexico.” When Carrillo finishes her Fulbright she hopes to apply to Columbia Law School and conduct research at Columbia’s Center on Global Transformation. 

Mary Hellmich, an International Studies major with a double minor in Hispanic Studies and English and a Concentration in Human Rights and Humanitarianism from Versailles, Ky., won an English Teaching Assistantship to Spain.  For Hellmich, receiving this award feels like an affirmation of how she spent her last four and a half years. “My pursuits at Macalester, my current job, and my love of Spain all come together in this grant,” she said. While in Spain, Hellmich hopes “to learn more about how secondary schools in Madrid educate in International Affairs and how students understand the material. I also plan to volunteer with a women’s rights nonprofit, and I’m eager to learn how Spain and its metropolitan spaces work towards gender equality.” After her Fulbright?  Hellmich wants to get a Masters in International Affairs.

Sarah Shoemaker, a Political Science major from Saratoga, Calif., won an English Teaching Assistantship to Malaysia. Shoemaker said receiving her Fulbright is a chance to fulfill her lifelong dream of working abroad. “I was able to spend a semester studying at the University of Amsterdam my junior year and am thrilled to venture a bit further from my comfort zone both geographically and culturally,” she said. Having never been to Southeast Asia, Shoemaker realizes she has a lot to learn about the histories, politics, cultures, and education system in Malaysia. “I’m excited to learn about the ways race, gender, and religion interact in the country and anticipate encountering challenges to my own beliefs and privileges. Most of all, I’m excited to connect with my students and community over the 10 months,” she said. When her Fulbright ends, Shoemaker would like to go to graduate school in public policy and entrepreneurship.

Macalester College, founded in 1874, is a national liberal arts college with a full-time enrollment of 2,138 students. Macalester is nationally recognized for its long-standing commitment to academic excellence, internationalism, multiculturalism, and civic engagement. Learn more at macalester.edu.