Seventeen Fords have been named semi-finalists for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program for the 2021–2022 academic year. That number is believed to be a record for the College, based on available data. Those 17 semi-finalists, selected by the U.S.-based National Screening Committee, will now advance to the final round of selection by the individual country commissions. 
 
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program received a 12 percent increase in applications this year. Over 11,000 students from more than 700 institutions applied for one of the 2,200-plus grants to study, conduct research, and teach abroad for the 2021–2022 academic year. Awardees are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement, as well as record of service and leadership potential in their respective fields.  
 
There were 26 Haverford student and alumni applicants for this round of the Fulbright, and 65 percent of the College’s applicants made it to the semi-finalist round.

“Credit goes out to the applicants for the time and energy they put into their applications over the summer,” said Jason Chan, the fellowship and career advisor and assistant director of the Center for Career and Professional Advising (CCPA) who administers the Fulbright U.S. Student Program at Haverford. “The world was just starting to adjust to the pandemic—a challenge in itself—and many applicants were also balancing remote work and internships, family and personal commitments, and other responsibilities. Writing multiple drafts of application essays on top of that was no easy feat, and reflects the perseverance of all our applicants.”

Haverford College’s Fulbright Semi-Finalists include the following 15 Fords, listed below with their name, host country, and grant type, as well as two others who requested to not be included:

• Raynor Bond-Ashpole '21 (United Kingdom, Open Study/Research)
• Zachary Brown '21 (Germany, Open Study/Research)
• Claire Cai '21 (Germany, English Teaching Assistant)
• Isabel Clements '21 (Denmark, Open Study/Research)
• Sarah Curtis '20 (Netherlands, Open Study/Research)
• Aszana Lopez-Bell '21 (South Korea, Open Study/Research)
• Daniel Mayo '19 (Taiwan, Open Study/Research)
• Tania Ortega '19 (Serbia, Open Study/Research)
• Chace Pulley '21 (Cyprus, English Teaching Assistant)
• Safiyah Riddle '18 (Spain, Open Study/Research)
• Ellen Schoder '19 (Spain, English Teaching Assistant)
• Tsion Syoum '21 (Uganda, Open Study/Research)
• Olivia Wong '21 (Ecuador, English Teaching Assistant)
• Cole Roland '21 (France, Open Study/Research)
• Robbie Spratt '21 (France, Open Study/Research)

“Fulbright seeks applicants who have a genuine interest in cross-cultural engagement, a strong curiosity about people and the world, and a clear sense of purpose in their academic and career pursuits—all qualities students cultivate through a Haverford experience,” said Chan. 

The application for the next award cycle will open on March 31, 2021, and the application deadline will be sometime in early September. So students and alumni interested in applying for the 2022–2023 cycle are strongly encouraged to contact Chan this spring prior to the end of the academic year.

Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 390,000 participants—chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential — with the opportunity to exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. Over 2,200 U.S. students, artists and early career professionals in more than 100 different fields of study are offered Fulbright Program grants to study, teach English, and conduct research annually in over 160 countries throughout the world.
 
The Fulbright Program is funded through an annual appropriation by the United States Congress to the U.S. Department of State and managed by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations in foreign countries and in the United States also provide direct and indirect support.
 
In the United States, the Institute of International Education administers and coordinates activities relevant to the Fulbright U.S. Student Program on behalf of the U.S. Department of State, including conducting an annual competition for the scholarships.