Chippewa Valley Times

Two students from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, known as Blugolds, have been selected for the 2024-25 Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards. Zachary May and Anna Wendorff, both graduates of the university, will be participating in English teaching assistantships in Argentina and South Korea respectively.

May, who graduated in December 2023, credits his academic preparation to the Spanish department, Latin American and Latinx studies department, Center for International Education (CIE), and the McNair Program. He believes that his Fulbright experience underscores the importance of interdisciplinary degrees and high-impact practices.

May will return to Argentina where he previously participated in a faculty-led international immersion experience. His future goals include earning a master’s degree in international and comparative education to understand educational policies at various levels.

Wendorff, a graduate of May 2023 with a double major in English and organizational communication, expressed gratitude towards her family, friends and faculty members for their support. She views her Fulbright award as an alignment with her long-held wishes of living abroad and her enduring love for English.

Wendorff's experiences at UW-Eau Claire were centered around research which allowed her to learn more about the world. Her interest in South Korea was sparked by a presentation on news coverage of the North Korean missile crisis that she presented at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research. As part of her Fulbright program, she plans to explore South Korean geography through photography and learn more about local cooking from her host family.

Colleen Marchwick, director of UW-Eau Claire’s Center for International Education stated that the university's combination of strong academic programs and experiential learning prepares students to become successful Fulbright applicants. She emphasized that these experiences allow students to develop necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes whether they are pursuing Fulbright awards or entering into other career paths.

The university is consistently among the top master’s universities in the nation for the number of students who receive Fulbright grants. For the 2024-25 cycle, six Blugolds applied for Fulbright awards with five becoming semifinalists.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program application cycle is currently open and interested students may contact Colleen Marchwick or Anna Dresnack in the CIE for more information.