Baylor-Record 48 Applicants Named Fulbright Semi-Finalists

January 24, 2025

A University-record 48 Baylor students and alumni have been named semi-finalists for the Fulbright Award for the 2025-26 award cycle. With opportunities ranging from study in the United Kingdom, to research in Germany, or English teaching in more than a dozen different countries, Baylor's semi-finalists are seeking to take part in the flagship international academic exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government.

Designed to promote mutual understanding between the United States and more than 140 countries, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program grants students a year of study, research, or teaching abroad. Baylor's semi-finalists will learn ultimate results in March and April, when Fulbright commissions around the world select winners.

"We are immensely proud of our 48 semi-finalists," notes Dr. Daniel Benyousky, director of major fellowships and awards and one of Baylor's five Fulbright Program Advisors. "The Fulbright awards are highly competitive, so this is a remarkable accomplishment for these students. It is also an accomplishment for Baylor's world-class faculty and staff, more than 150 of whom supported our applicants through interviews, recommendations, and mentoring this cycle."

Baylor students have enjoyed mounting success with the Fulbright in recent years, and this year's 48 semi-finalists surpassed a previous record of 34 in 2024. Three cycles ago, when Baylor registered a record 14 Fulbright winners, 27% of the University's applicants won the award, resulting in Baylor's first recognition as a Fulbright Top Producing Institution. Two cycles ago, Baylor notched 12 winners, with a 28% success rate—the second consecutive year Baylor became a Fulbright Top Producer. Last year, Baylor's 34 semi-finalists yielded 18 winners, again notching Baylor as a Fulbright Top Producer.

Dr. Anna Beaudry, assistant director of major fellowships and awards in Baylor's Office of Engaged Learning, says that going abroad on a Fulbright award offers a profound impact on a student, as well as those around them.

"One of the great things about the Fulbright is that it is a fit for students across disciplines. We have been delighted to see the Fulbright launch Baylor students toward all manner of future ambitions—whether in humanities, medicine, law, public service, or a variety of other fields. And these students impact many lives in turn, both while they're abroad and when they come back to the US."

Baylor will soon launch its application process for the upcoming Fulbright cycle and will be holding sessions and workshops throughout February to help students decide if they want to apply. US citizens who graduate this year or next, alumni, as well as graduate students are eligible.

More information about Baylor's Fulbright application process is available on the Baylor Fulbright page, where students can learn more by clicking the Students link.

Current Baylor Fulbright Semi-Finalists

Hannah Anderson, United Kingdom
Nadia Andrilenas, Vietnam
Shelby Barnes, Germany
Aron Basurto, The Netherlands
Devon Bolton, Morocco
Kerri Bond, Sweden
Felise Bressler, Canada
Connor Cabot, Uraguay
Robert Cerovich, The Netherlands
Sarah Chan, Laos
Maggie Cielesz, Poland
Annalise Cornett, Spain
Andreina Coronado, Spain
DeChana Dandridge, Madagascar
John Austin DeLozier, South Korea
Justin Demsky, Poland
Sydney Denison, Romania
Lily Dickenson, Turkey
Michael Ermis, Czech Republic
John Esler, Indonesia
Eliana Galan, Czech Republic
Kylie Hansen, Mexico
Simone Henry, Taiwan
Jake Hill, Israel
Mayra Honda-Shimabukuro, Timor-Leste
Emma Irwin, France
Tori Jones, Taiwan
Michael Mastrodicasa, Spain
Haley McAveney, Mexico
Kristen Nakamura, Indonesia
Danielle Paraiso, Austria
Christopher Pham, Vietnam
Abigail Pitts, The Netherlands
Kathleen Quinn, Ireland
Giselle Rivera, South Korea
Karly Shepherd, Taiwan
Elizabeth Siatkowski, Argentina
Sacha Sims, United Kingdom
Dayna Smith, Austria
William Smith, Germany
Katherine Squires, Germany
Liberty Tucker, Hungary
Ava Watson, Montenegro
Ella Whatley, Mexico
Krista Wichterman, Bulgaria
Isabella Zárate, Mexico
Isabelle Zgorzelski, Argentina