Four UW Students Semifinalists for Fulbright Program

Four University of Wyoming undergraduate students have been chosen as semifinalists for the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Scholarship Program.

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. The primary source of funding is an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. 

Participating governments, host institutions, corporations and foundations in foreign countries and in the United States also provide direct and indirect support. Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected based on academic or professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields. The program operates in over 160 countries worldwide, and awards are highly competitive.

Fulbright offers two student awards: the English Teaching Assistantship (ETA), which allows students to work as assistants to English teachers across the globe; and the Open Study/Research Award, which allows students to pursue graduate study or independent research at international institutions.

Before being considered as a semifinalist at the international country level, applicants must first be selected by the U.S. committee as well as an on-campus committee of faculty and administrators.

The four UW semifinalists, listed by hometown, are:

Cheyenne -- Alexa Mejia, a senior earning her bachelor’s degree in physiology with a minor in Spanish. A semifinalist for the Fulbright ETA award in Mexico, she was inspired to pursue a Fulbright Award based on her desire to eventually work in health care with a global impact.

“While I have personal ties to Mexico, my goal for the Fulbright is to explore Mexico in ways I have not yet experienced. I am eager to learn about Mexico’s health care system and the policies in place to support immigrant populations,” she says. “I hope to apply this knowledge to improve health care access and resources for immigrant communities in the United States. Teaching English also will be a deeply personal endeavor for me. It is a way to honor my parents, who immigrated to the U.S. and worked to learn English so that I could have greater opportunities.”

Mejia is a past participant in a service-learning program to Ecuador through UW Education Abroad.

Green River -- Jessica Petri, a senior earning a bachelor’s degree in social studies education and political science with minors in honors and international relations. She is a semifinalist for the Fulbright ETA award in Laos.

“Education expands the possibilities of individuals’ lives, meaning it’s the basis for freedom. Being an educator is not just a career for me -- it is a moral calling to provide learners with knowledge that empowers them to define their own futures,” Petri says. “I applied to Fulbright with the hopes of teaching because I truly believe this is the best impact I can have in the world. As a current student in the School of Politics, Public Affairs and International Studies, as well as the College of Education, with intentions of pursuing a career in international education, applying to Fulbright was an easy decision because of how well the mission of Fulbright aligns with my goals.”

Petri is a past participant in a faculty-led program to Ireland and will participate in a Consortium for Overseas Student Teaching program this spring to Costa Rica, both through UW Education Abroad.

Manchester, Conn. -- Jack MacDonald, who is earning a Master of Arts in music. He is a semifinalist for the Fulbright ETA award in Taiwan.

“I feel lucky and honored to have been named a semifinalist,” he says. “I hope my potential host country sees the thought, care and dedication I bring to pursuing the goals I am most passionate about.”

MacDonald is a past participant in two faculty-led programs led by UW music professors to Brazil, Spain and France.

Sheridan -- Hanna Needles, a senior earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theater and dance with a minor in psychology. She is a semifinalist for the Fulbright Open Study Research Award in the United Kingdom. An accomplished dancer and recognizable fixture in UW dance productions, she intends to continue her career in the field on an international scale.

“The process of applying for a Fulbright award helped me gain a clearer sense of the path I want to pursue,” Needles says. “If selected as a Fulbright recipient, my goal is to study dance at the graduate level while engaging in meaningful cultural exchange in London.”

Needles is a past participant in the UW London Semester Program through UW Education Abroad.

The four UW students were selected from more than 9,000 applicants. UW has seen 41 recipients of the Fulbright Student Award since 1987.

“We saw an uptick in the number of applicants this round from previous years, and we are delighted that four University of Wyoming students have made it to the next round in an incredibly competitive process,” says Dianne Thompson, one of the UW Fulbright Program advisers.

“I am incredibly proud to recognize our four Fulbright student award semifinalists,” says Shelley Jewell, another UW adviser. “This prestigious and highly competitive award epitomizes the spirit of academic exchange, fostering mutual understanding and collaboration across countries. Whether through teaching English abroad or conducting research, these outstanding students exemplify the University of Wyoming’s goal of fostering leaders who make a lasting impact on the world.”

Jewell and Thompson are housed in UW Education Abroad, which is part of the Global Engagement Office.

The 2025-26 competition cycle will open in April. Faculty and staff members who wish to serve on the application review committee, or UW students who are interested in applying for the Fulbright Scholarship, should email Thompson at twostep@uwyo.edu or Jewell at sjewell1@uwyo.edu.