Drake ranks among top producers of Fulbright students nationwide

10/23/2009

Drake University ranks No. 2 in the nation among master's institutions in the number of Fulbright grants its students received in 2009-10, according to a recent report in The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Drake students won three Fulbright awards for the 2009-2010 year out of eight applications. Only Rollins College in Florida placed ahead of Drake with seven applicants and four awards among the 29 master's institutions listed in The Chronicle rankings. Institutions in this category grant most of their graduate degrees at the master's level.

"The Drake community is delighted by this welcome recognition," Drake Provost Michael J. Renner said. "The Fulbright award is one of the most prestigious international fellowships available to students, and the competition is intense. Drake moved from 13th place among master's institutions in 2008 to second in 2009, and we have consistently been a top producer of Fulbright Scholars for the past several years."

Drake's three Fulbright recipients, all of whom graduated last May, are teaching English to high school or college students overseas during 2009-10:

• Amy Benes, who received a bachelor’s degree in marketing and management, is in Gurye, South Korea 
  
• Alexa Horwart, who earned a bachelor’s degree in international relations and broadcast journalism, is in Limboto, Indonesia
• Karli-Jo Storm, who received a bachelor’s degree in international relations and politics, is in Baku, Azerbaijan

"We are very proud of Amy, Alexa and Karli-Jo, both because of their own achievements and because they are representative of Drake’s focus on producing graduates who are responsible global citizens," Provost Renner said.

Eleanor Zeff has been helping Drake students with their Fulbright applications since 2003.

"Drake students are quite competitive in the quest for Fulbright awards," said Eleanor Zeff, who has served as Drake Fulbright program adviser since 2003.

"Five of our eight applicants last year advanced to the second stage of the competition," added Zeff, associate professor of politics and international relations. "In addition to the three students who received awards, we also had a student selected as an alternate."

Zeff gained a new title this fall. As coordinator of post-graduate opportunities, she is helping students with their applications for a wide array of scholarship programs, including Boren, Fulbright, Truman, Marshall, Rhodes and Rotary International.

"I'm trying to reach out to students across the University to let them know about the many opportunities available to them," Zeff added.  
Students who apply for these competitive awards receive a high level of support from faculty.

Zeff herself worked many late nights to finish her critiques of the nine, recently submitted, Fulbright applications for the 2010-11 academic year. In addition, she has a committee of 10 faculty members who conduct mock interviews with applicants.  Also, there are dozens of professors who devote countless hours to writing recommendations for their students.

"Our students are fortunate," Zeff concluded, "to have intensive support from the University and the faculty."