Six Loyola Marymount University students have earned Fulbright grants for 2016-17 — setting an LMU record for the largest number awarded in a single year.
The students were selected from a group of 13 finalists – another record number for LMU – whose names were released earlier this year. Those earning grants for study, research and English teaching assistantships across the globe are:
— Alana Slavin, 21 of St. Louis (economics, B.A. and Spanish, B.A., 2016): Netherlands
— Ryan Beitz, 28 of Los Angeles (philosophy, M.A., 2016): Finland
— Lauren Thurmond, 26 of Los Angeles (educational studies, M.A., 2016): Greece
— Monique Mansour, 26 of Rancho Santa Margarita, California (screenwriting, B.A. and sociology, B.A., 2012): Malta
— Jacob Coronel, 28 of Los Angeles (secondary education, M.A., 2016): Mexico
— Nina Lepp, 21 of Mercer Island, Washington (mechanical engineering, B.S., 2016): Poland
Another three LMU students were named alternates for the country programs to which they applied. They are:
— Iftin Abshir, 25 of Littleton, Colorado (chemistry, B.S. and screenwriting, B.A., 2015): United Kingdom
— Taylor Kay, 21 of Hawthorne, California (urban studies, B.A., 2015): Netherlands
— Matthew Alvarez, 24 of Oakland, California (special education, M.A., 2016): Brazil
The students represent a range of interests and LMU schools and colleges, including the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts, the School of Film and Television, the School of Education, and the Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering.
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is the nation’s largest student exchange program offering students and young professionals an opportunity to study for graduate degrees, conduct advanced research or teach in primary, secondary schools and colleges in 140 countries. The program awards approximately 1,900 grants each year and was started as a reaction to WW II.