Villanova One of Top Producers of Fulbright Awards
Among master’s institutions, Villanova is one of the top producers of
Fulbright awards for U.S. students, reported the
Institute of International
Education (IIE). Three Villanova students (see below) received Fulbright grants
for 2006-2007.
The October 20, 2006, issue of the Chronicle of Higher Education contains a
special feature on the Fulbright Program. The article highlights the Fulbright
Program’s new critical languages emphasis, and new opportunities that are
available to Fulbright students through the Fulbright Critical Language
Enhancement Awards. It also includes the lists of
“Top Producing” schools –
those campuses in each Carnegie Classification that had the highest number of
students who received Fulbright grants this year.
Not only is Villanova University one of this year’s top producing master’s
institutions for U.S. Fulbright students, but the University also has the
distinction of currently hosting one Visiting Scholar during the 2006-2007
academic year.
“Villanovans have fared extremely well in the Fulbright Program throughout the
years,” said
Jane Morris, director of the
Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships at the University. “Since 1976, more than 30 Fulbright grants have been
awarded to Villanova students and alumni. The
College of Arts and Sciences has
been well-represented among these Fulbright scholars. ”
According to the IIE, “[Villanova’s] strong support of the Fulbright Program
is a clear indicator of Villanova University’s commitment to the value of
international education in these complex times, and to the promotion of mutual
understanding in the world. We thank you for your institution’s fantastic work,
and your commitment to the Fulbright Program.”
Goldwater Scholarship
Haig Norian ('08, Electrical Engineering)
has been awarded a 2007 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. In addition to
his
outstanding academic success, Haig has been actively involved in
research - last summer as a participant in an REU program at Penn State
working with Dr. Kenji Uchino on the piezoelectric properties of
polyvinylidene diflouride (PVDF) in search of alternative energy
sources. He is currently working on solar cells with Dr. Pritpal Singh,
chair of Villanova's Department of Electrical and Computer
Engineering. After graduation, Haig plans to pursue a Ph.D. in the hopes
of securing a position as a research professor at the university level.
Fulbright Scholar
Jaclyn Farwell ('07, Nursing)
was recently awarded a
Fulbright
Teaching Assistant Grant to teach English as a second language in South
Korea next year. Jacy was recognized by Fulbright not only for her
remarkable academic achievements, but for her considerable contributions
to the Villanova community. At Villanova, Jacy has served as a leader
and mentor in the College of Nursing, a tutor through Project Sunshine
and the Department of Theology, and as Bravo Company Commander for our
Naval ROTC program. Through the Fulbright program, Jacy will also
pursue the Language Training Initiative to learn the Korean language. In
her nursing career, Jacy hopes to improve healthcare for those with
language barriers.
Goldwater Honorable Mention
Robert Zellem ('08, Presidential
Scholar, Astronomy/Astrophysics)
received Honorable Mention
in the Goldwater Scholarship competition for his outstanding academic
record and his contribution to the research efforts in our
Astronomy/Astrophysics Department. Rob is currently working with Dr.
Edward Guinan on the star IM Pegasi. Rob will also be attending the
Vatican Observatory Summer School this summer.
Harry S. Truman Scholarship
Katrine Herrick ('08, Management
and International Business, Presidential Scholar)
was interviewed for the
Truman Scholarship which supports undergraduates who plan careers as
public servants and agents of change. Katrine has been an active leader
in Villanova's Habitat for Humanity efforts and she was also recently
selected to participate this summer in the Villanova-CRS Summer Global
Solidarity Internship.
Sarah Blanchard
('08, Sociology/Honors, Presidential Scholar) was also interviewed for
the Truman Scholarship. Sarah,
who is currently studying in Spain as a Connelly Delouvrier Scholar, has
been actively involved in research in the Sociology Department and she
plans a career as a university professor and an advocate for social
change in education.
National Defense Science and Engineering
Graduate Fellowship
Nicholas O’Donoughue (’06, Electrical and
Computer Engineering) has been awarded a National Defense Science and
Engineering Graduate Fellowship. Currently, Nicholas is pursuing a
Ph.D. in Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University where he is
a member of the Time Reversal Imaging Group in the ECE Department. The
Time Reversal Imaging group is supported by DARPA under the Mathematical
Time Reversal Methods Program, whose objective is the development and
verification of algorithms to improve the resolution and functionality
of various RADAR systems through the application of Time Reversal.
Nicholas' current focus within this group is on the development of
Signal Processing algorithms to exploit Time Reversal in Synthetic
Aperture Radar systems (typically used for Terrain-Mapping, Battle
Damage Assessment, and Surveillance) that exploit Stretch Processing, a
hardware technique used to greatly reduces the bandwidth of the received
signal.
Vatican
Observatory Summer School
Rob Zellem ('08
Astronomy and Astrophysics) has been selected to attend the Vatican
Observatory Summer School to study Extrasolar Planets and Brown Dwarfs. Rob is
one of 25 students worldwide, and one of only three Americans, selected for this
prestigious program.
