Maria Andrews ’17 Selected for Fulbright Grant

A Pennsylvania native, Andrews was a member of the College Honors Program, a Cultural Peer Mentor, and recipient of an Academic Excellence Scholarship in addition to the Presidential Medal Scholarship during her time at MMC.

“Marymount Manhattan College has shown me the variety of opportunities available for motivated students looking for field experience and has equipped me with the tools to succeed in any path I choose. I am so fortunate to have worked with Dr. Adrienne Bell, as her guidance has strengthened my writing skills and pushed me to imagine what could be possible. In this small college, I am most thankful for the close, individual relationships with professors that have supported and aided me in my pursuits. I am thrilled to accept the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant position in Malaysia, as I enjoy learning from and working with young people, and inspiring creative and critical thinking in the minds of the future generation.”

The Fulbright ETA grant places a Fulbrighter in a classroom abroad to provide assistance to teachers of English to non-native English-speakers. ETAs help teach the English language while serving as a cultural ambassador for U.S. culture. The age and academic level of classroom students varies by country, ranging from kindergarten to university level. While the Fulbright ETA program is highly competitive—on average, only 22 percent of applicants are accepted—Maria is the third MMC student to be awarded a Fulbright ETA grant in the past six years.

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, host institutions, corporations, and foundations in foreign countries and in the United States also provide direct and indirect support. Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields. The Program operates in over 160 countries worldwide.