Violet Jira, a 2024 University of Mississippi graduate from Cleveland, was awarded a Fulbright to study Germany's Black population at the University of Leipzig, but plans to participate in an Allbriton Journalism Institute fellowship instead. Submitted photo
Ole Miss receives institution record 19 semifinalists
by Erin Garrett
The University of Mississippi has achieved another standout year in the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, with seven students and recent graduates earning awards and six named as alternates for the prestigious international exchange program.
This year’s accomplishment builds on the university’s growing success in the Fulbright program, having produced 66 Fulbright awardees since 1950. One-third of all UM Fulbright awardees have been named in just the last four years.
“This year’s group of awardees is full of individuals who are passionate about their work and decided to further their experience and global awareness by applying to the Fulbright,” said Whitney Woods, assistant director of the university’s Office of National Scholarship Advisement.
“The application process is a lengthy one and requires commitment. It is amazing to watch them grow through this process and become more confident in their personal, academic and career journey.”
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers opportunities for students and young professionals to teach, study or conduct research in more than 130 countries. This year’s UM awardees have been given the opportunity to travel to diverse locations including Colombia, South Korea, Germany, Uganda and Taiwan.
This year’s recipients are Landon Bradley, Samantha Fabian, Binta Fadiga, Violet Jira, Paola Leon, Regeana Peeler and Matthew Travers.
Matthew Travers, of Chesterfield, Missouri, graduated from Ole Miss in 2021 with a double degree in international studies and Chinese. He is the recipient of a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Taiwan. He has previously been awarded the Yenching scholarship in 2021 and the Boren in 2019.
Travers said he looks forward to meeting his students and seeing their progress throughout the year.
“I am also looking forward to improving my Chinese language skills, exploring the Pingtung County mountain and oceanside views on my scooter, and tasting all the local foods, especially the Pingtung bluefin tuna,” he said.
Paola Leon, an international studies major from Corinth, will travel to South Korea as an ETA.
“I look forward to further developing my proficiency in Korean and knowledge of Korean culture and society that I obtained during my time at Ole Miss and a year studying abroad in Seoul,” she said. “I am also excited that this opportunity allows me to pursue my interest in teaching English as a foreign language, especially as someone who is a heritage Spanish speaker.
“I am confident that my time in South Korea through Fulbright will provide me with the tools necessary to develop my professional career and explore my interests.”
Samantha Fabian, of Omaha, Nebraska, is slated to graduate in December from the School of Business Administration. A 2023 Boren recipient, she was awarded a Fulbright to serve as an ETA in South Korea.
Landon Bradley, a Laurel native majoring in international studies and Spanish, was awarded a Fulbright ETA to Colombia but decided to pursue other interests. He was also a 2024 recipient of the Boren award.
Violet Jira, a former Stamps scholar with majors in journalism and philosophy, was awarded a Fulbright to conduct research on Germany’s Black population at the University of Leipzig. The Cleveland native will participate in an Allbriton Journalism Institute fellowship instead, but touts the benefits of pursuing a Fulbright.
“I was excited and honored to be selected as an awardee for Fulbright Germany’s Young Professional Journalists program,” Jira said. “ONSA does such a good job of helping you put your best foot forward and because of that, I learned so much just through the application process alone.”
International studies major Binta Fadiga, a Cleveland native who was also awarded a 2024 Boren scholarship, was also awarded a 2024 Boren scholarship, was offered a Fulbright to serve as an ETA in South Korea. Instead, she decided to pursue other interests.
Oxford native Regeana Peeler, a psychology major with a minor in American Sign Language interpretation, received an ETA program award in Uganda, but decided to pursue other interests. She is a veteran of the U.S. Army who previously served in Afghanistan.
Besides the seven awardees, six UM students were named as alternates for Fulbright awards: Eesha Gudiseva, of Memphis, Tennessee; Londyn Lorenz, of Perryville, Missouri; Evan Morrisey, of Jackson; Hattie Sergent, of Milton, West Virginia; Maggie Thomas, of Lilburn, Georgia; and Ally Watrous, of Lexington, Kentucky.
The university’s success this year follows an intensive preparation process.
“Over the summer break, we ran a series of one-month Fulbright boot camps online that guided students through the process of writing a compelling and competitive application,” said Vivian Ibrahim, ONSA director. “This rigorous preparation contributed to our record-breaking 19 semifinalists—the highest number we’ve ever had.”
