Fourteen Elon seniors, alumni named semifinalists for Fulbright U.S. Student Program

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers research, study and teaching opportunities to recent graduates in more than 140 countries, with approximately 2,200 grants awarded annually in all fields of study.

Fourteen Elon students and alumni have been recommended as semifinalists for the 2025-26 Fulbright U.S. Student Program, the largest exchange program in the country that offers opportunities for recent graduates in more than 140 countries.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards approximately 2,200 grants annually in all fields of study, with recent graduates and graduate students undertaking international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching and primary and secondary teaching worldwide. Founded in 1946, the Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.

Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected based on academic and professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields. As semifinalists, these Elon students and alumni have been recommended by the National Screening Committee of the Institute of International Education for final consideration for a Fulbright award. They will be notified of their final award status this spring beginning in late March.

This was another strong year for Fulbright applicants from Elon, with 50% being recommended as semifinalists. This number is even more impressive when you consider that Elon applicants have increasingly pursued study/research grants in recent years, which are the most competitive Fulbright grants to obtain. While the Fulbright U.S. Student Program’s average acceptance rate is 20%, the study/research grants Elon students applied for this year have an average acceptance rate of 6.9%.

This year’s Fulbright semifinalists are:

Margo Buchanan ’25

  • Theatrical Design & Technology and Political Science
  • Semifinalist for a Fulbright English teaching assistantship to Germany

Drew Fetterolf ’25

  • Biochemistry and Religious Studies
  • Semifinalist for a Fulbright study/research grant to Kenya

Ryan Gibbons ’25

  • Environmental & Ecological Science and Cinema & Television Arts
  • Semifinalist for a Fulbright study/research grant to the United Kingdom

Daniel Haley ’25

  • Philosophy and Psychology
  • Semifinalist for a Fulbright study/research grant to Ireland

Rachel Maccini ’25

  • Special Education and Middle Grades Education
  • Semifinalist for a Fulbright English teaching assistantship to Germany

Cristy Mariné ’25

  • Cinema & Television Arts and Strategic Communications
  • Semifinalist for a Fulbright study/research grant to the United Kingdom

Madison Powers ’25

  • Journalism
  • Semifinalist for a Fulbright English teaching assistantship to Spain

Claire Przybocki ’24

  • International & Global Studies and Economics
  • Semifinalist for a Fulbright English teaching assistantship to Poland

Bailey Reutinger ’25

  • Statistics and Biology
  • Semifinalist for a Fulbright study/research grant to the Netherlands

Sydnie Rogers ’22

  • Philosophy
  • Semifinalist for a Fulbright English teaching assistantship to Rwanda

Celia Roskin ’20

  • Elementary Education
  • Semifinalist for a Fulbright English teaching assistantship to Taiwan

Nicholas Rugbart ’25

  • International & Global Studies
  • Semifinalist for a Fulbright study/research grant to Taiwan

Morgan Seate ’25

  • Philosophy
  • Semifinalist for a Fulbright study/research Grant to the United Kingdom

Sadie Smith ’25

  • Strategic Communications and International & Global Studies
  • Semifinalist for a Fulbright English teaching assistantship to Bulgaria

Elon students and alumni interested in the Fulbright Program or other nationally competitive fellowships are invited to contact the National and International Fellowships Office. To begin the Fulbright application process for grants in 2026-27, students should visit the Fulbright Application Process page to register for one of the following Fulbright information sessions during spring semester:

  • Wednesday, March 5 at 4:00 (virtual)
  • Thursday, April 10 at 4:30 (in person)
  • Wednesday, May 21 at noon (virtual)