Harrison Crawford ’22 wasn 麻豆精品 S檛 sure what to make of the mini fridge delivered to his temporary home in Indonesia in August. He 麻豆精品 S檇 come to the country to teach English to curious school children and had gotten mildly sick. Food and gifts began to arrive from people he barely knew. 麻豆精品 S淭hat 麻豆精品 S檚 the culture here in Indonesia, 麻豆精品 S� Crawford says, shedding some initial light on why he 麻豆精品 S檚 there. Crawford is among 10 recent UCF graduates who were offered prestigious Fulbright awards to teach, learn, and integrate abroad. Seven nominees accepted the Fulbright offer to become conduits of a global language (English) and impact, much like their alma mater.
In fact, UCF is a Top Producer of Fulbright U.S. Students for the 2023-24 academic year, according to the U.S. Department of State 麻豆精品 S檚 Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Knight Nation is the only public institution in Florida to earn the designation. This is the second time UCF has received this honor, with 2020-21 being the first.
麻豆精品 S淚 know what it 麻豆精品 S檚 like to struggle with a new language and a new culture, 麻豆精品 S� says Noah Cabarcas, 麻豆精品 S渁nd that 麻豆精品 S檚 what makes the Fulbright experience so meaningful. The struggle goes both ways, and it has a unique way of bringing people together. 麻豆精品 S�
Sophie Brockell 麻豆精品 S�23
Degree at UCF: Secondary education
Fulbright destination: Spain
What Brockell is doing there: Teaching English to middle- and high-school students
And then: Earn a master 麻豆精品 S檚 degree and Ph.D.
麻豆精品 S淪ince early September I 麻豆精品 S檝e been living and teaching in a region of Spain known as Galicia. It 麻豆精品 S檚 a unique place. The people take late lunches, drink a specific beer rather than wine, and eat a lot of seafood. The language is Galician, a blend of Spanish and Portuguese, which the local people are trying hard to preserve. During my Fulbright application, I proposed a cultural exchange project called 麻豆精品 S榞astrodiplomacy 麻豆精品 S� to tie everything together. It 麻豆精品 S檚 using food experiences as a language to connect cultures.
麻豆精品 S淔or example, I told my students about a rice pudding recipe. They said, 麻豆精品 S極h, that 麻豆精品 S檚 just like arroz con leche. 麻豆精品 S� It reminded us that we have more in common than we might assume. Now we 麻豆精品 S檙e compiling a cookbook that includes recipes, family stories, and the history of this region. I 麻豆精品 S檓 also working with local food banks because no place in the world is immune to food insecurity. I learned a lot about that growing up in the Dominican Republic where my parents worked on humanitarian projects as missionaries. Meeting the needs of people while learning from them is a core value for me. That 麻豆精品 S檚 why the Fulbright has been such a great fit. 麻豆精品 S�
Noah Cabarcas 麻豆精品 S�22
Degree at UCF: Political science
Fulbright destination: Brazil
What Cabarcas will do there: Work at a university as an English teaching assistant
And then: Teach languages wherever it 麻豆精品 S檚 needed
麻豆精品 S淚 cannot remember a time in my life when I haven 麻豆精品 S檛 been learning or teaching a language. My mother is from Nicaragua. My father is from Panama. So, I learned Spanish and English from the time I could speak. Since then, I 麻豆精品 S檝e taught myself Portuguese, studied Italian and French, and for fun I dabbled in Japanese and Russian. In Orlando, I teach English to immigrants. When I heard about the Fulbright during my last year at UCF, I knew it would be worth the rigorous application process to do what I 麻豆精品 S檓 passionate about in Brazil.
麻豆精品 S淎fter graduating from UCF, I decided to go to Brazil on my own for a few weeks while awaiting the Fulbright results. I 麻豆精品 S檇 meet people on nature trails, at food stalls, anything to integrate. The experience made me even more excited to be offered the Fulbright. My approach is to facilitate conversations in English through music, clubs, games and storytelling rather than to rely on textbooks. I once thought my major in political science would prepare me to be an interpreter for the World Health Organization, Red Cross or United Nations, but now I see my purpose more clearly: to help people on a personal level learn languages and improve their lives. The Fulbright is a natural step in that direction. 麻豆精品 S�
Eliana Jacobs 麻豆精品 S�22
Degree at UCF: Interdisciplinary studies and sociology
Fulbright destination: Taiwan
What Jacobs is doing there: Teaching English in elementary schools
And then: Go to medical school
麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檓 a young African American woman from Florida working in classrooms full of kids who speak Chinese and look nothing like me. They 麻豆精品 S檙e fascinated to hear about manatees and cars in America. I 麻豆精品 S檓 still curious about the rampant use of scooters here. We 麻豆精品 S檙e building trust through language barriers by showing genuine interest in each other. This is what I 麻豆精品 S檒l need to do in the future as a pediatric endocrinologist 麻豆精品 S� develop trust at the bedside with patients from all communities.
麻豆精品 S淲hen I was 14 years old, I was diagnosed with type-1 diabetes. During my research for the Fulbright application, I was surprised to find out about the high prevalence rate of diabetes in Taiwan. At the time, I was taking 21 credit hours, working on my honors thesis and working three part-time jobs. The Fulbright seemed like a longshot, but the thought of teaching children in another country while visiting medical schools and research centers motivated me. I 麻豆精品 S檝e been here three months. My confidence is higher. My knowledge is deeper. And my desire to help kids is stronger than ever. 麻豆精品 S�
Lilliana Ramos 麻豆精品 S�23
Degree at UCF: International and global studies
Fulbright destination: La Rioja, Spain
What Ramos will do there: Teach English to primary school students
And then: Foreign service
麻豆精品 S淢y parents had to spread their wings when they left Cuba to start a new life in the U.S. For them, it was a necessity. For me, spreading my wings will be an honor. Coming to UCF after attending high school in Miami was the first time I ventured off on my own. Little did I know it would eventually lead to an immersive Fulbright experience in Spain, where I 麻豆精品 S檒l get a taste inside and outside the classroom of what my parents had to learn: how to assimilate to a new culture.
麻豆精品 S淚n La Rioja, students want to learn the English language and American culture for the same reasons I want to learn theirs 麻豆精品 S� languages and cultures connect the world, and they open us up to a lifetime of opportunities. The work reminds me of growing up in a family where we had open discussions about important topics. My dad had worked in a consulate in Cuba before it closed, so he imparted the ideals of slowing down, listening, and being patient with people from different backgrounds. In Spain, I 麻豆精品 S檒l be the one from a different background. I can 麻豆精品 S檛 imagine a better way to prepare for whatever comes next. 麻豆精品 S�
Harrison Crawford 麻豆精品 S�22
Degree at UCF: Interdisciplinary studies
Fulbright destination: Indonesia
What Crawford is doing there: Teaching English
And then: Build a test prep tutoring operation
麻豆精品 S淚ndonesia is one of the biggest countries on Earth, and arguably the most culturally [complex]. At the moment, I 麻豆精品 S檓 in the city of Manado, where the motto is, 麻豆精品 S榃e are all family. 麻豆精品 S� Shortly after I arrived, word got out that I 麻豆精品 S檇 gotten sick. A parade of people showed up with food, medicine, even kitchen appliances. If one teacher hears I skipped breakfast, within an hour I 麻豆精品 S檒l have a plate of avocado, fish and bread in front of me. I 麻豆精品 S檓 teaching English, and they 麻豆精品 S檙e teaching me what true kindness and generosity look like.
麻豆精品 S淚 almost didn 麻豆精品 S檛 apply for the Fulbright, which would have been the biggest mistake of my life. It 麻豆精品 S檚 rare for Americans to collaborate with people in Global South countries as equals in a cultural context. I bring games so the kids have fun learning English and about parts of the world they might never see. Later, I 麻豆精品 S檓 hosting a storytelling competition, where students will have a chance to advance to the national level in Jakarta. It 麻豆精品 S檚 a big deal because most Indonesians don 麻豆精品 S檛 travel as easily as Americans do. Not long ago, I felt like I was meandering a bit. Today, I 麻豆精品 S檓 living a life with direction that would have once been unthinkable. 麻豆精品 S�
Casey Corrigan 麻豆精品 S�19 麻豆精品 S�23MA
Degree at UCF: Social science education
Fulbright destination: Taipei, Taiwan
What Corrigan is doing there: English teaching assistant
And then: Teach English to middle schoolers, high schoolers and adult speakers of other languages
麻豆精品 S淚 never envisioned myself teaching English in Taiwan, but here I am on this adventure. The teachers in Taipei use different styles. My current school follows a Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) approach, which means the students learn English while I teach them music and art. I might discuss specific shapes and textures in English and then a Taiwanese co-teacher will explain in Chinese how to use them when creating artwork.
麻豆精品 S淭he Fulbright program came to my attention during a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) class at UCF. Previous Fulbright recipients told me how the program helped them with visas, living arrangements, setting up a bank accounts, all the daunting details when you go abroad. Having a reputable program guiding my steps made me feel safe. Next summer I 麻豆精品 S檒l come back to Orlando and pursue work as a teacher, but I know how plans can change. Whatever happens next, I will always be grateful for the people at UCF who helped make this life-changing experience a reality. 麻豆精品 S�
Meghan Absher 麻豆精品 S�22, who earned a bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 in integrative general studies student from UCF, also accepted a Fulbright award with the destination of Romania.
Students interested in applying for Fulbright awards or other major national awards should contact the Office of Prestigious Awards at opa@ucf.edu.
