A Fulbright Future

Since receiving our first Fulbright Award in 1951, Rollins has produced a total of 36 Fulbright Scholars (11 of whom have been named since 2005). This year, a record-breaking six more names were added to that list.

Shayla Alamino ’12

Country: Thailand
Major: Theatre Arts
Up next: MFA program at Actors Studio Drama School Pace University

Why go abroad after graduating?

When my parents were my age, they arrived at the Miami International Airport with 100 pesos (at the time, about $45), two suitcases stuffed with hand-me-down clothing, and a limited knowledge of English. Because coming to the U.S. deterred them from attending college, I feel the importance of making education a priority for myself and for others. Not only have I fulfilled a dream they couldn’t, but I’ll also get to teach others the language they had to learn.

Aislinn Betancourt ’12

Country: Malaysia
Major: Religious Studies
Up next: Dual degrees in law and religious studies

Why did you apply for a Fulbright scholarship?

A great deal of Malaysia’s registered refugees suffer from political, religious, and gender-based discrimination due to Malaysia’s failure to sign the U.N. Refugee Act, which assures refugees’ civil rights. While I was studying in Australia, I became interested in this topic as controversy arose over their government’s “Malaysia Plan”—an attempt to swap 800 newly arrived asylum seekers for 4,000 of Malaysia ’s registered refugees (most of whom were Burmese). Being an advocate for refugees everywhere and especially in those cases involving religious and gender discrimination, I felt compelled to return to that part of the world (really, initially just compelled to leave the United States) and do something about the problem. The Fulbright Scholarship offers me that opportunity.

Kory Eylmann ’12

Country: Germany
Major: International Business
Up next: MBA

What’s your connection to Germany?

I started studying German my first semester at Rollins in the German RCC. At the end of that semester, I traveled toGermany as part of a field study, which was my first international experience. I also spent six months there studying abroad during my sophomore year.

Jane Lombardi ’11

Country: Mexico
Major: Latin American and Caribbean Studies and Spanish
Up next: Doctoral program in Hispanic literature

How will this experience impact your future goals?

I want to continue my studies in Hispanic literature and eventually teach at the university level. One of my research interests is Latin American and Caribbean popular culture, so Mexico offers the opportunity to experience their popular culture first-hand, to begin researching my topics of interest while preparing myself for graduate studies, and to gain more teaching experience with college-age students.

Nic Ramos-Flores ’12

Country: Korea
Major: Spanish
Up next: Teach or pursue graduate school

Why Korea?

I want to study somewhere that I have no knowledge about. I spent a year in Spain, and I know how that cultural system works. I am Puerto Rican, so I know how the Hispanic world works. But I am not familiar with Asia, and I think Korea will give me the opportunity to increase my knowledge about a different part of the world.

Ian Wallace ’12

Country: Nepal
Major: International Relations
Up next: Teach for America

What are you most excited to learn during your experience?

To be honest, I am very excited to try to pick up some Nepali. I think it would be really neat to someday hold a simple conversation with my fraternity brothers [Raghabendra] KC [’13] and Adi [Mahara ’12] in their native tongue.