IU named top producer for Fulbright U.S. Student Program: 2019 News: News: News & Events: Department of Biology: Indiana University Bloomington

Indiana University named top producer for Fulbright U.S. Student Program

Friday, March 15, 2019

From left, Greer Brown, Madeline Danforth, and Adam Smith received Fulbright awards for academic year 2018-19. Photo courtesy of the IU Office of National Scholarships and Awards

It was announced last month that for the fourth year in a row, Indiana University has been named a top producer for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, as announced by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Ten IU Bloomington students and one IU Southeast student received Fulbright awards for academic year 2018-19. The lists of top-producing institutions appeared in the Feb. 10 issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education.

IU Biology alumna Madeline Danforth, who earned her B.S. in microbiology with departmental honors last May, is one of the 2018-19 recipients—receiving a Fulbright award to teach English in Mexico. Danforth also earned a B.A. in Spanish and a minor in chemistry in May 2018.

Danforth has been passionate about improving and practicing her Spanish in order to eventually serve the U.S. Spanish-speaking population as a physician. As an IU undergraduate student, she spent a summer in Santiago, Chile—studying the country’s healthcare system and observing clinical operations through the IES Summer Health Studies Program.

Her experiences in Chile motivated her to become involved with the international community in Bloomington, Indiana, when she returned to IU in the fall—teaching English to Spanish speakers through local programs, particularly VITAL (Volunteers in Tutoring Adult Learners).

As a Fulbright scholar, Danforth is partaking in cultural and educational exchange as an English teaching assistant in Tlaxcala, Mexico, where she teaches the advanced English class at the Universidad Politécnica de Tlaxcala.

In the fall, she will attend Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis to pursue her M.D.

Danforth in Mexico

Madeline Danforth shared some photos of her experiences as a Fulbright Scholar in Tlaxcala, Mexico. View them in the slideshow below.

Fulbright Scholar Madeline Danforth and one of the English classes she teaches at Universidad Politécnica de Tlaxcala. — Madeline Danforth (back row, second from left) and one of the classes she teaches. She notes, "I teach the 'advanced English class' at my school. It is like a more official conversation club, and we do activities to encourage students to speak, read, listen, and write in English.

A fellow Fulbright Scholar (who works in Mexico City) and Madeline Danforth at the school where she teaches—the Universidad Politécnica de Tlaxcala, which is an engineering school. — A fellow Fulbrighter (who works in Mexico City) and Madeline Danforth (standing) at the school where she teaches—the Universidad Politécnica de Tlaxcala, which is an engineering school.

Madeline Danforth (back row, third from right) and the women's soccer team and coach at Universidad Politécnica de Tlaxcala. — The university’s women's soccer team and coach during the interpolytechnic games, which their university hosted. Madeline Danforth is in the back row, third from right. (The mountain in the background is an inactive volcano called “La Malinche.”)

Universidad Politécnica de Tlaxcala women's soccer team and Madeline Danforth during the interpolytechnic games, which their university hosted. — The university's soccer team during the interpolytechnic games. Madeline Danforth is in the back row, first on left.

All of the other Fulbright English teaching assistants and Madeline Danforth in Campeche during their midterm reunión. — All of the Fulbright English teaching assistants (including Madeline Danforth) in Campeche during their midterm reunion. Danforth is along the left wall, the third standing person from the bottom. Photo by Mayra Linares for COMEXUS

Madeline Danforth gives a talk (in English) to a student audience at Universidad Politécnica de Tlaxcala. — Madeline Danforth gave a talk (in English) at the university about U.S. elections and the current political situation.

Student audience during a talk given by Madeline Danforth at Universidad Politécnica de Tlaxcala. — Audience at Madeline Danforth's talk (in English) at the university about U.S. elections and the current political situation.

Fulbright Scholar Madeline Danforth stands between the Mexican and U.S. flags in Mexico City at the “museo de arte popular” at an event for her program. — Madeline Danforth in Mexico City at the “museo de arte popular” at an event for her program.

A sign along the street of Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl, the capital of Tlaxcala and where Fulbright Scholar Madeline Danforth lives. AKA “Tlaxcala City.” — Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl (a.k.a., Tlaxcala City), the capital of Tlaxcala and where Madeline Danforth lives while serving as a Fulbright Scholar.

A portion of a panel of a mural at the government palace in Tlaxcala City, painted by Desiderio Hernández Xochitiotzin. This shows Malinche, Cortes, and the Tlaxcalteca leader making an agreement during colonization. These are important murals for Tlaxcala. — A portion of a mural panel at the government palace in Tlaxcala City, painted by Desiderio Hernández Xochitiotzin. This shows Malinche, Cortes, and the Tlaxcalteca leader making an agreement during colonization. These are important murals for Tlaxcala.

Overlooking Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl taken from “Las Escalinatas,” a lookout in Tlaxcala. — Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl taken from “Las Escalinatas,” a lookout in Tlaxcala.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State, funded by an annual appropriation from the U.S. Congress to the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. It is supported in its implementation by the Institute of International Education.

The Fulbright Program also awards grants to U.S. scholars, teachers, and faculty to conduct research and teach overseas. In addition, some 4,000 foreign Fulbright students and scholars come to the United States annually to study, lecture, conduct research, and teach foreign languages.

Students who are interested in pursuing a Fulbright U.S. Student Program grant should contact their respective adviser: Paul Fogleman advises IU Bloomington undergraduates and Duke Gatsos advises IU Bloomington graduate students. Students on other IU campuses can search for their adviser on the Fulbright U.S. Student Program website.

Some of the above content is from the IU news release, "Indiana University named top producer for Fulbright U.S. Student Program." Read the release for additional information and a list of IU's Fulbright U.S. Student Program grant recipients, including their major(s), hometown, host country, and type of Fulbright award.

Read the release

Indiana University named top producer for Fulbright U.S. Student Program

Danforth in Mexico

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