Six Texas State University students and two recent alumni have been recommended by the Fulbright National Screening Committee as semi-finalists for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program’s 2025–2026 award year.
The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program. Sponsored by the Department of State, it is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program—separate from the Fulbright Scholar Program—offers long-term funded research, study, and teaching opportunities in over 140 countries to students and alumni from all academic, creative, and performing arts fields. Study/Research awards provide grants for independent research/creative projects. English Teaching Assistant (ETA) awards place grantees in schools to supplement local English language instruction. Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement.
Undergraduate students:
- Trace Kleinecke – bachelor of arts, international studies; minor in German; ETA program, Germany
- Joci Tidey – bachelor of arts, German; minor in English; ETA program, Germany
Graduate students:
- Lois Bronaugh – master of arts, international studies; Study/Research program, Germany
- Kathleen McDowell – master of fine arts, theatre (directing); Study/Research program, Poland
- Mariah Price – master of fine arts, creative writing (fiction); ETA program, Spain
- Shannon Ture – Ph.D., adult, professional, and community education; Study/Research program, Germany
Alumni:
- Raylen Davis – bachelor of arts, anthropology; minor in medieval and renaissance studies; graduated in Honors; Study/Research program, Finland
- Gabriella Gabehart – bachelor of science, digital media innovation; minor in leadership studies; Study/Research program, Iceland
These semi-finalist applications have been forwarded to the supervising agencies in the applicants’ prospective host countries, and the final selection status (grant awardee, alternate, or non-awardee) will be announced between March and June.
Eligible students who are interested in applying to the Fulbright U.S. Student Program in next year’s competition, which will open in early April, should contact a TXST Fulbright Program Adviser (FPA) corresponding to their degree level. Undergraduate FPAs are Lisa Haegele, Ph.D., and Cathlin Noonan, MFA. Graduate FPAs are Brian Smith, DMA, and Andrea Hilkovitz, Ph.D.
