Sixteen current and former Bates students have been offered Fulbright Student international exchange awards for 2026–2027.

Award locations for this year’s grantees span five continents and 11 countries, including Timor-Leste, Germany, Cameroon, Australia, and Argentina. Four students have been offered research/open study grants, and 12 have been offered English teaching grants.

“I am enormously proud of this exceptional group of Fulbright recipients — and the dedicated faculty and staff who supported them throughout the application process and indeed their entire Bates careers,” said Bates President Garry W. Jenkins. “The Fulbright program has recognized that these 16 students are profoundly dedicated to learning, meaningful cultural exchange, and scientific discovery. I know that they will be wonderful ambassadors for Bates, and the United States more broadly, in their scholarship year and beyond.”

Fulbright, the U.S. government’s flagship international exchange program, each year offers over 400 awards in more than 135 countries for U.S. citizens to teach, conduct research, and carry out professional projects around the world. Earlier this year, Bates was recognized as a Top Producer of Fulbright Student awards for the 15th year in a row. The college’s longstanding elevated participation in the program is a direct result of the system of mentorship and support that faculty and staff have cultivated. 

Bates students are introduced to the prospect of completing a Fulbright grant early in their college careers, and the Graduate Fellowships Committee, led by Director of National Fellowships and Lecturer in English Robert Strong, is eager to advise students as they explore Fulbright opportunities. Faculty across the college serve as mentors to students throughout the process, reading students’ application materials, writing letters of recommendation, and inviting students into research or study opportunities.

“Our office was thrilled to recommend so many accomplished Bates students for Fulbright Student awards this year,” Strong said. “We could not be more excited for these 16 students to embark on their international journeys of cultural, language, and academic exchange, and self-discovery. To the extent that their contributions at Bates have greatly enlivened our campus, we are certain that their research, study, and teaching efforts abroad will do the same in their various host countries.”

Blessing Ajayi ’26 

Blessing Ajayi ’26, a double major in German and biochemistry with a concentration in sound, who is from New Jersey, has been offered a Fulbright English teaching grant for Austria. 

Relevant Experience Includes: Semester-long study in Germany, advanced German study, tutor at Bates’ Student Academic Support Center

Bates and Community Activities Include: Charles A. Dana Scholar, director of video games for the Bates Discordians, co-president and co-founder of Bates Food Friends, treasurer of Robotics Club, Bates Star student worker for Reunion, IT Service Desk student worker, front desk representative and patient and tool transporter at St. Mary’s Hospital, employee assisting with reception, event set-up, tours, and archival work at the Maine MILL | Museum of Innovation, Learning and Labor

Plans for Host-Community Engagement in Austria: Supporting school activities and events throughout the year

Plans After Fulbright: Attend medical school and become a physician

More About Ajayi: Ajayi grew up surrounded by multiple languages, with her family members speaking Yoruba and many of her neighbors speaking Spanish. She began learning Latin and German in high school and continued her German learning at Bates, where language study became less about rote memorization and more about exploring various topics with the target language. Learning German has allowed Ajayi to explore various interests, and she is eager to continue doing the same in Austria. 

“There is so much I look forward to learning and experiencing in Austria. As a musician, I am interested in exploring Austria’s musical heritage and tracing the paths of Mahler, Mozart, Schubert and Strauss. I’m also curious to experience the Alps, where I would love the opportunity to go hiking, see one of the traditional Alpine cattle drives, and maybe meet a Krampus during one of the Christmas markets.”

Charles “Lee” Anderson ’26

Charles “Lee” Anderson ’26, a sociology major with minors in philosophy and psychology from Durham, N.C., has been offered a Fulbright English teaching grant for Brazil. 

Relevant Experience Includes: Semester-long study in Portugal, semester-long study in Brazil, volunteering as an English teacher at a high school in Brazil, tutoring with Playground Pals and Tree Street Youth in Lewiston, summer camp counselor, tennis coach

Bates and Community Activities Include: WRBC Radio Host, Bates Sunshine Society, Robinson Players, club tennis, Meditation Club, volunteering with elderly residents at Blake Street Towers

Plans for Host-Community Engagement in Brazil: Join or create an English or sports club to encourage conversational language learning

Plans After Fulbright: Pursue a career in education, nonprofit work, or international service, aiming to mentor students in their pursuit of global activities

What the Bates Fulbright Committee Said: “Lee is a wonderful representative. He is a gentle one and a great listener. His deep love for Brazil is inspiring to see, and he has made a concerted effort, already, to begin preparing himself to serve as an effective ETA and cultural ambassador.”

More About Anderson: When he was nine, Anderson’s family moved from the U.S. to Costa Rica, where he was thrust into an entirely new environment marked by an unfamiliar language and culture. The adjustment wasn’t easy for a young Anderson, but once he became comfortable in his new home, he grew to appreciate and love the challenge of exploring a new, foreign place, as reflected by his multiple study abroad endeavors.

“Life has taught me that although stepping outside of my comfort zone may increase the potential for things to ‘go wrong,’ it also exponentially increases the possibility of things going right. Further, even when things do ‘go wrong,’ these times of discomfort are where I have learned the most about not just the world but myself as well.”

Maple Buescher ’25

Maple Buescher ’25, a politics major with a minor in English, was offered a Fulbright English teaching grant for Spain.

Relevant Experience Includes: Honors thesis analyzing nationalist rhetoric and changing understandings of nationalism in Galicia, Spain; advanced Spanish knowledge; semester-long study in Spain; Spanish teaching apprentice at the High Mountain Institute; AESOP leader; teaching assistant at an afterschool program for children from underserved populations in Spain; youth mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid–Maine; mentor with Lewiston-based Playground Pals; camp counselor; swim instructor

Bates and Community Activities Include: Charles A. Dana Scholar, Ladd Library student access specialist, editor-in-chief of The Bates Student 2023–24, Outing Club trip leader, club sailing team member, Phi Beta Kappa, Bates chamber ensemble club and orchestra

Plans for Host-Community Engagement in Spain: Join communities such as book clubs and hiking groups, join or create a creative writing group for children

Plans After Fulbright: Earn certification to teach Spanish as a foreign language and become a full-time educator in American public schools

What the Bates Fulbright Committee Said: “Maple is a joyful and confident person who challenges herself to take the road less traveled. She led a group of first-year students on a three-day backcountry trip as part of orientation; she created such a supportive environment that the group continues to meet for weekly dinners.”

More About Buescher: Buescher has spent the past academic year working as a teacher and wilderness guide at the High Mountain Institute, a semester-long study-away program for high schoolers. As an educator, her “pedagogy is play.” Whether she’s teaching Spanish students the names of colors in English through “I Spy” or introducing teenagers on wilderness excursions to “Leave No Trace” principles through skits and songs, Buescher prioritizes creativity in order to meet students where they are at.

“Play isn’t magic, but it works. It is not incidental to learning; it IS learning.”

Jacqueline Coraci ’26

Jacqueline Coraci ’26, a French and Francophone studies major with a minor in teacher education from New York City, has been offered a Fulbright English teaching grant for Cameroon. 

Relevant Experience Includes: Semester-long study in France, semester-long study in Senegal, advanced French knowledge, Teaching English as a Foreign Language certification, full-time student teacher for three high school French sections at Edward Little High School, completed community-engaged learning fieldwork in Lewiston elementary school classrooms, intern at Women’s Global Education Project in Senegal, camp counselor, English tutor in France

Bates and Community Activities Include: Theater Club, theater carpenter, co-president of Arts Society, vocal performance

Plans for Host-Community Engagement in Cameroon: Teach English through music, learn more about Cameroonian art and music, explore new artistic mediums such as painting, beadworking, creative writing, and dancing

Plans After Fulbright: Pursue a master’s degree and become a French teacher

What the Bates Fulbright Committee Said: “Her integration while abroad in Senegal was impressive, including both homestay and work with a local education nonprofit. She is a very special fit for the Cameroon placement and we are proud to send her forward.”

More About Coraci: In addition to sharing her passion for the French language and French and Francophone culture, Coraci’s desire to become a teacher is also driven by her goal of supporting students who may be struggling mentally, physically, or financially.

“I feel that this is my life’s purpose. Teachers are the backbone of future generations, and I’m committed to helping form culturally aware individuals who value social justice and the diversity that shapes our world.”

Ganga Corsaro ’26

Ganga Corsaro ’26, a double major in environmental studies and Chinese from Saint Paul, Minn., has been offered a Fulbright English teaching grant for Taiwan. 

Relevant Experience Includes: Semester-long study in Taipei, advanced Mandarin knowledge, senior Chinese thesis exploring tourism and cultural identity in Taiwan through a case study of the Indigenous Tsou people and the Alishan region, AmeriCorps Teaching Fellow, literacy tutor at Lewiston Middle School, counselor at Nepali Indian Heritage Camp, campus ambassador for CET study abroad program

Bates and Community Activities Include: South Asian Student Association, Bollywood Dance Club, Outing Club, community outreach fellow with the Harward Center for Community Partnerships, summer fellow at Gather to Grow

Plans for Host-Community Engagement in Taiwan: Become involved with school and community food systems, facilitate one-on-one tutoring or English clubs, engage in community projects 

Plans After Fulbright: Pursue graduate study and future work in community-based food and environmental education, with a focus on empowering youth through cultural exchange, food literacy, and stronger connections to community and sustainability

What the Bates Fulbright Committee Said: Corsaro is a “super-smart, great communicator, [who] speaks with ease about her life journey and all she has learned. Ganga will be a wonderful addition to her school and community in any placement in Taiwan. Her curiosity and open demeanor are very winning, and she is a wonderful representative of the 21st century United States.”

More About Corsaro: Corsaro was adopted from Nepal as a baby and attended a Chinese immersion school throughout her elementary school years in order to connect with other adopted children. Her experience navigating her identity as an adoptee, as well as her desire to pay forward the opportunities she received thanks to her adoption, have bolstered her commitment to supporting connection across cultures.

“Growing up learning Mandarin alongside English shapes the empathy I bring to teaching. I know firsthand the challenges of navigating between languages and cultures, and I view students’ linguistic and cultural identities as assets rather than barriers.”

Eileen “Lean” Dockery ’26 

Eileen “Lean” Dockery ’26, an environmental studies major with a minor in rhetoric, film, and screen studies from Rye, N.Y., has been offered a Fulbright English teaching grant for Bulgaria, supported additionally by the America for Bulgaria Foundation. 

Relevant Experience Includes: Semester-long study in the Czech Republic, working independently in hostels in Latvia and Lithuania, AESOP leader, Bates printmaking teaching assistant, painter with Lewiston public art project, Asian American Arts Alliance intern

Bates and Community Activities Include: Bates Arts Society, Bates Garden student worker, Southeast Asian Society, Bates Musicians Union, WRBC radio show host, Snaggletooth literary magazine, Trashion Show, graphic designer for the Department of Theater and Dance, Lewiston Live Arts and Music Festival performer

Plans for Host-Community Engagement in Taiwan: Facilitate the creation of a student-led mural through leading a visual arts club, plant a school flower garden through leading a garden club, lead community art courses

Plans After Fulbright: Work in a nonprofit space supporting recently immigrated individuals and families, developing curriculum enrichment programs that incorporate art and environmental stewardship

What the Bates Fulbright Committee Said: “Eileen has a wonderful desire to learn about Bulgaria precisely because it is unfamiliar to her. She has visited the general region but has never been to Bulgaria, which is a draw for her. She is also attracted to the call from the America in Bulgaria Foundation to benefit her host community with specific initiatives, which we know she will bring a creative and productive approach to, given her wealth of arts, music, and writing experiences and skills.”

More About Dockery: An avid banjo player who can often be found attending folk music and dance events around Lewiston, Dockery looks forward to exploring Bulgarian culture by immersing herself in the country’s folk music scene. She’ll also use folk music as a way to help her students practice English and explore American culture; she’s planning an “Artists of the Month” project series through which students will research and report on American folk musicians.

“Folk music is rich with storytelling, allowing for students to engage with the multitude of histories and cultures that make up America. Music is also an accessible entry point into learning vocabulary and literary devices, making this activity approachable to students with varying levels of English proficiency.”

Alexander Duchin ’26

Alexander Duchin ’26, a biochemistry major with a concentration in English from Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y., has been offered a Fulbright study/research grant for Australia.

Research Experience Includes: Senior biochemistry thesis comparing the chemical properties of sodium and lithium in the context of electric vehicles, research assistant studying lab techniques at Bates, conducted metagenomic sequencing in the Androscoggin River, research assistant studying psychedelic-assisted therapy at New York University, clinical projects assistant at Solis Health, medical assistant at Medrite

Bates and Community Activities Include: AESOP leader, Athletics sports information assistant, mentor for two Lewiston elementary school students through Big Brothers Big Sisters, volunteer at Gather to Grow

Fulbright Research Purpose: Duchin’s project will examine the physical effects of psychedelic-assisted therapy on patients. In 2023, Australia became the first country to legalize psychedelic substances for use in psychiatric treatment, and while psychedelics have already proved useful in treating mental health disorders such as body dysmorphia and anorexia, few studies have examined the substances’ effect on physical health. That’s where Duchin comes in. He’ll be working with Professor Susan Rossell at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne to study exercise and activity patterns in patients with body dysmorphia or anorexia who have pursued psychedelic treatment. Duchin will also test their VO2 max scores, which represent the maximum amount of oxygen a person can utilize during exercise, and collect brain imaging data to identify potential neural changes before and after psychedelic treatment.

Plans for Host-Community Engagement in Australia: Build a connection with local clinics to share research, mentor an elementary school student, connect to the community through music

Plans After Fulbright: Become a physician and combine clinical care with patient research through clinical trials

What the Bates Fulbright Committee Said: “Our committee was very taken by Alexander’s ability to identify a key area of research in a field just beginning to open up in the U.S., establish contact with a leader in the global field abroad, and walk the fine line of building a project that can mesh seamlessly with ongoing research.”

More About Duchin: Working as a medical assistant in New York City, Duchin observed firsthand the struggle that many mental health patients face while trying to identify the best treatment for themselves. Conducting research about psychedelic-assisted therapy under NYU Clinical Professor Caroline Dorsen gave Duchin an idea of what to do about that problem, and he became passionate about pursuing psychedelic treatment as a way to transform the U.S. psychiatric healthcare system.

“Not having complete access to potential preventative care is proving to be very problematic in the U.S., and introducing country-wide psychedelic-assisted therapy could be an answer.”

Ava Elghanayan ’26

Ava Elghanayan ’26, a rhetoric, film, and screen studies major with a Hispanic studies minor from Katonah, N.Y., has been offered a Fulbright English teaching grant for Spain.

Relevant Experience Includes: Semester-long study in Spain, advanced Spanish knowledge, AESOP leader, teaching assistant for the Bates Department of Rhetoric, Film, and Screen Studies, Playground Pals volunteer, teaching assistant and volunteer at a center for immigrant families, high school English teaching assistant, camp counselor, staff writer and editorial assistant with Connect to Northern Westchester Magazine, summer community service trip to Costa Rica

Bates and Community Activities Include: TakeNote a cappella group, Jewish Student Union, Tea Club secretary, Robinson Players

Plans for Host-Community Engagement in Spain: Volunteer with local theater groups to create workshops in English and Spanish, join a choir, take dance classes, offer English tutoring, oversee other school clubs

Plans After Fulbright: Potentially attend law school, pursue a master’s degree in library science, or pursue a career in the non-profit sector

What the Bates Fulbright Committee Said: “Ava is a vibrant presence, confident but not outspoken; she is always looking for the creative angle in interactions, as was evident in our campus interview. She will be a wonderful Fulbright representative.”

More About Elghanayan: For two years, Elghanayan worked as a staff writer and editorial assistant for Connect to Northern Westchester Magazine, a publication covering her hometown of Katonah. Her love for and experience with writing are reflected in her approach to teaching. To connect with children who may struggle with English, Elghanayan encourages her students to write about their personal experiences and cultural backgrounds.

“I realize that integrating personal experience into lessons sparks engagement. I plan to bring this student-centered approach to Spain by working with lead teachers to incorporate projects on family histories and cultural traditions, and then linking these to lessons on American traditions.”

Kyra Chen Lie Friederich ’26

Kyra Chen Lie Friederich ’26, a politics major with an Asian studies minor from Munich, Germany, has been offered a Fulbright English teaching grant for Taiwan.

Relevant Experience Includes: Semester-long study in China, advanced Mandarin knowledge, Huayu Enrichment Scholarship to Taiwan recipient, two summer language immersion programs in Taiwan, teaching assistant with Maine Immigrant and Refugee Services, mentor at Lewiston High School, work-study at Tree Street Youth

Bates and Community Activities Include: Co-president of Bates International Club, Student Affairs Committee, Bates Southeast Asian Society, Center for Purposeful Work peer advisor, Residence Life and Health Education community advisor, member of search committee for Bates vice president for student affairs, work-study at Trinity Jubilee Center

Plans for Host-Community Engagement in Taiwan: Join Chinese pop dance classes or traditional Hakka folk dance groups, community service such as storytelling at the library, beach cleaning, visiting retirement communities 

Plans After Fulbright: Attend law school with a focus on international law and U.S.-East Asia relations

What the Bates Fulbright Committee Said: “Kyra will be an immense resource and joy for her new school and community in Taiwan.”

More About Friederich: Friederich grew up speaking German and Indonesian, then learned Mandarin and English in school. One might imagine that learning languages comes easily to polyglot Friederich, but it was a challenging experience, she says. She’ll use her knowledge gained from testing a variety of different language learning methods, and her experience in multicultural and multilingual environments, to help her students in Taiwan learn English.

“Just as I learned to be patient with myself adjusting to new languages and environments, I am now equipped to support students to see growth as a gradual, non-linear process. … I want to meet them where they are because their path to learning doesn’t need to follow anyone else’s — it just needs to be meaningful and purposeful for them.”

Aiman Hasan ’26

Aiman Hasan ’26, a biochemistry major with a concentration in public health from Allen, Texas, has been offered a Fulbright study/research grant for Denmark.

Research Experience Includes: Conducted research focusing on food allergy at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, conducted research at Georgetown University’s Lombardi Cancer Center, two-time Bates summer research fellow, participated in the Harvard Summer Immunology Program

Bates and Community Activities Include: STEM Scholar, AESOP Leader, Admission tour guide, volunteer at St. Mary’s Transfusion Center, mentoring a student at a Lewiston elementary school through Big Brothers Big Sisters

Fulbright Research Purpose: Hasan will be investigating the role of ZGRF1 — a type of enzyme called a DNA helicase that plays an important role in DNA replication — in proliferating treatment-resistant cancerous tumors. Mouse models have shown that removing ZGRF1 slows tumor growth, and high ZGRF1 expression in human tumors is associated with tumor growth. Under the guidance of Professor Michael Lisby at the University of Copenhagen, Hasan will look at how cancerous tumors respond when ZGRF1 is inhibited while therapeutic drugs that treat by damaging tumor DNA are introduced. This approach to cancer treatment would target the cancerous cells specifically, leaving healthy cells intact.

Plans for Host-Community Engagement in Denmark: Volunteer at Mændenes Hjem, a Copenhagen organization serving homeless and vulnerable people through shelter, health clinics, and needle exchanges; join a run club; mentor STEM students.

Plans After Fulbright: Attend medical school with the goal of becoming a physician, mentor pre-med undergraduate students, and write about the role of global engagement in medicine

What the Bates Fulbright Committee Said: “Deeply curious about improving health outcomes while simultaneously active in his community partnerships beyond the laboratory, Aiman will thrive in Denmark — a country he has come to love — and establish important bonds with Danish colleagues.”

More About Hasan: While working as a summer researcher at Georgetown’s Lombardi Cancer Center, Hasan began to see the big picture behind and potential impact of scientific research, a discovery that is shaping the trajectory of his future career and life.

“Research shifted from following steps to understanding why, how, and what happens when you tweak them. These experiences shaped my desire to work at the intersection of immunology and oncology, a unique area I hope to contribute to meaningfully.”

Katie Heumann ’26

Katie Heumann ’26, a psychology major with a Hispanic studies minor from Ann Arbor, Mich., has been offered a Fulbright English teaching grant for Spain.

Relevant Experience Includes: Semester-long study in Spain, advanced Spanish knowledge, AESOP leader, camp counselor, swim instructor, afterschool program volunteer and classroom intern in Lewiston schools

Bates and Community Activities Include: Women’s club water polo, Bates Environmental Coalition, Small Ensembles Club, Jewish Student Union, community-based psychology honors thesis on civic engagement in early elementary school classrooms

Plans for Host-Community Engagement in Spain: Join or create a hiking group, join a water polo team, prioritize language exchange

Plans After Fulbright: Pursue a child-focused career in social work and clinical psychology,

What the Bates Fulbright Committee Said: Katie “pursued a course of study that is intensive in both study of the language and in Spanish-language literature and culture. We are impressed that she wants to be placed in a region of Spain she is less familiar with. Clearly, Katie is hungry to continue learning as much as she can about Spain and its people and culture.”

More About Heumann: Heumann has extensive experience in childcare and teaching, including work with children with learning differences at a camp for neurodivergent children and as a classroom intern with Lewiston’s Promise Early Education program. Passionate about early childhood development and educational psychology, Heumann has conducted extensive study about teaching that will serve her well in Spain.

“Whether in an urban or rural setting, my priority is to work with young learners. I have hands-on experience with children and have practiced positive reinforcement while collaborating with lead teachers and head counselors to support every child.”

Evelyn Marchand ’26

Evelyn Marchand ’26, an earth and climate sciences major with a minor in chemistry from Trumbull, Conn., has been offered a Fulbright study/research grant for Denmark.

Research Experience Includes: Senior earth and climate sciences thesis studying biomarkers in kelp, Bates student researcher studying environmental geochemistry and salt marshes, summer geochemical research intern at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, independent study project in Iceland through the School of International Training, Climate Change and Global Sustainability

Bates and Community Activities Include: Vice president of Earth2Bates club, track and field captain, earth and climate sciences teaching assistant, Athletics facilities assistant, course notetaker, Tree Street Youth tutor, high school classroom volunteer

Fulbright Research Purpose: Marchand’s project will center around studying blue carbon, the carbon captured by oceans and coastal ecosystems, in Arctic kelp. Her ultimate goal is to better understand modern Arctic environments in order to more accurately develop models of paleoenvironments, or ancient environments, that show how the Arctic has responded to changing climates over time. These models will be key in understanding how the Arctic is and will continue responding to anthropogenic climate change, to which delicate Arctic ecosystems are particularly vulnerable. Marchand will conduct her research under Professor Søren Rysgaard and Professor Dorte Krause-Jensen of Aarhus University. She will also be taking graduate-level courses in Denmark and Greenland through the university’s Arctic Semester program, supplementing her research with an up-close look at the Arctic environment.

Plans for Host-Community Engagement in Denmark: Join the Mikkeller Run Club, volunteer to introduce students to climate change and earth sciences, join a journal exchange club to learn about a variety of local research

Plans After Fulbright: Pursue a master’s degree in geochemistry with a focus on paleoclimates

What the Bates Fulbright Committee Said: “Her intentionality in planning this grant sequence has been impressive to watch, and we know she will arrive with excellent knowledge and even more curiosity.”

More About Marchand: Marchand became “engrossed” in her study of Arctic environments after learning through her Bates coursework that these areas are the most dramatically impacted by climate change. Throughout her tenure as an undergraduate researcher, a passion for community engagement emerged alongside a commitment to scientific rigor.  Marchand has since embraced the opportunity to engage with the people whose homelands she studies, whether that be through experiencing local events with her host family in Iceland or attending conferences to converse with people from other Arctic countries.

“I have become a better researcher from learning from my community.”

Wilson Smith ’26

Wilson Smith ’26, a Hispanic studies major with a minor in mathematics from Seattle, Wash., has been offered a Fulbright English teaching grant for Spain.

Relevant Experience Includes: Hispanic studies senior thesis, advanced Spanish knowledge, semester-long study in Argentina, semester-long study in Portugal, semester-long study in Spain in high school

Bates and Community Activities Include: Bates men’s soccer, Aspirations Club, Athletics graphic designer, volunteer soccer coach at Rosati Leadership Academy, volunteer at Lewiston Recreation clinics

Plans for Host-Community Engagement in Spain: Volunteer and coach with sport organizations like Red Deporte, volunteer with organizations promoting food security like UNICEF España

Plans After Fulbright: Pursue a career in international education as a coordinator for gap year or study abroad programs, with a long-term goal of designing and leading programs that use sports as tools for global learning

What the Bates Fulbright Committee Said: “Wilson is a wonderful representative. His mentoring and community work began at a young age — he worked with the Special Olympics throughout high school — and he continues apace with his outreach today. This spirit will come with him to Spain, where he will have positive impact on his school and community.”

More About Smith: Through high school and college, Smith traveled to six Spanish-speaking countries and Portugal. In every place he travels, he tries to do three specific things: play soccer with locals, cook and eat local food, and take a dance class.

“I find joy in connecting with and learning from people and cultures all over the world. I remember a day in San José, Costa Rica, where I joined a pick-up soccer game. We were sliding around barefoot in the tropical downpour, all of us laughing. The joy that it brought me and that I saw on the faces of the locals will forever stick with me.”

Lucy Sterba ’26

Lucy Sterba ’26, a biochemistry major with minors in Hispanic studies and art and visual culture from El Cerrito, Calif., has been offered a Fulbright study/research grant for Argentina.

Research Experience Includes: Senior biochemistry thesis, Bates summer research intern sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and Maine INBRE program, summer research intern at Clarkson University sponsored by the National Science Foundation

Bates and Community Activities Include: Club ultimate frisbee, classical and ensemble pianist, wellbeing community performer, Museum of Art collections management and digital archives intern, Ladd Library access services specialist, course notetaker, Trinity Jubilee Center volunteer, math tutor for Lewiston Middle School student

Fulbright Research Purpose: Sterba will be investigating the development of age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of age-related blindness worldwide. She’ll look specifically at a common complication of the disease called choroidal neovascularization, which causes abnormal blood vessels to grow in the middle layer of the eye, leading to vision loss. The complication poses a serious public health threat to elderly Argentinians with about 15 percent of the 65-and-up population being at-risk. Building upon her Bates senior thesis research studying mouse retina regeneration, Sterba will work with Professor Pablo Federico Barcelona, a researcher at the Center for Research in Clinical Biochemistry and Immunology Córdoba, to study the role of the protein receptor LRP1 in the development of choroidal neovascularization. 

Plans for Host-Community Engagement in Argentina: Tutor students through mentorship and environmental education program Fundación La Lucena, join Unidos por la Música at the National University of Córdoba, explore the Argentinian visual arts scene, join sports teams

Plans After Fulbright: Pursue a Ph.D. in neurobiology

What the Bates Fulbright Committee Said: “Both her parents were Fulbrighters, so she has already lived abroad twice in the capacity of ‘child of Fulbright ambassador,’ in Norway and Ghana. This is not just a quirky coincidence: Lucy has ingrained the Fulbright mission and displays it in her immense community engagement on our campus and in our community.”

More About Sterba: Sterba has long been passionate about the visual arts. In high school, she served as the student commissioner for her hometown’s Arts and Culture Commission, and at Bates, she has led gallery talks and written blog posts for the Bates Museum of Art.

“Argentina has particularly fascinated me for many years for its vibrant culture and dedication to the arts and music. My love for the visual arts serves as a core motivation behind my own research on the eye and its implications for restoring vision. As a student of art history, I am continually fascinated by communities that cultivate human connection and problem-solving through creative means. Argentina, and specifically the city of Córdoba, is a true champion of this practice.”

Sydney Wilmot ’26

Sydney Wilmot ’26, a psychology major with a minor in education from Jackson, Wyo., has been offered a Fulbright English teaching grant for Timor-Leste.

Relevant Experience Includes: Semester-long study in Denmark, ski coach, teaching assistant in Lewiston Public Schools

Bates and Community Activities Include: Nordic skiing team captain, course designer in the Department of Education, psychology research assistant

Plans for Host-Community Engagement in Timor-Leste: Volunteer with female and educational empowerment organization Ba Futuru, volunteer at American cultural exchange center UmaAmerika

Plans After Fulbright: Potentially pursue a graduate degree in occupational therapy and become a pediatric occupational therapist

What the Bates Fulbright Committee Said: “Sydney is a fantastic representative of the U.S. and Fulbright, as well as Bates College. Along with her vibrant, confident presence with students, she has been elected captain of the ski team by her peers and conducts research … as a psychology major. Clearly, she is someone who not only enjoys interacting with others but who thinks deeply about their well-being and modes of existence.”

More About Wilmot: Wilmot has spent more than 100 hours working as a teaching assistant in Lewiston school classrooms, working with students aged five to 21 in English Language Learning, special education, and art courses. Her work with students with learning differences and who hail from different cultural backgrounds, along with her study of pedagogy as an education minor, has taught her the importance of developing diverse approaches to teaching.

“My work with students on the autism spectrum taught me to balance sociability and collaboration with respect for personal boundaries. These experiences reinforced my belief that lesson design must address both academic and emotional needs to create equitable learning spaces.”

Luciana Zaiet ’26

Luciana Zaiet ’26, a double major in German and English from Edgemont, N.Y., has been offered a Fulbright English teaching grant for Germany.

Relevant Experience Includes: Semester-long study in Germany, semester-long study in Scotland, senior thesis on German immigration to Brazil supported by a Bates Barlow Grant, advanced German knowledge, Bates German peer tutor, teaching literacy and learning support employee at Park Avenue Elementary School in Lewiston, ArtVan volunteer at Lewiston Public Library

Bates and Community Activities Include: Staff writer for The Bates Student, AESOP leader, German conversation table

Plans for Host-Community Engagement in Germany: Tutor English at community centers or nonprofit organizations, join local arts groups, take art courses

Plans After Fulbright: Pursue Graduate school in journalism or communications, while continuing to serve as a link between the U.S. and Germany

What the Bates Fulbright Committee Said: “A regular member at the German table on campus, as well as an outdoor orientation leader at Bates and a habitual art ‘sketcher’ of scenes and people, Luciana has a dynamic three-dimensional approach to engaging with new people that will make her popular with students and new neighbors alike.”

More About Zaiet: In high school, Zaiet took a family trip to Germany and was afterward motivated to study German. However, since her high school didn’t offer German courses, she enrolled in an independent German-language school. After driving her to the school, Zaiet’s father became interested in German and also enrolled. Zaiet’s self-motivated experience studying Germany helps her to connect with Bates peers as a German tutor.

“When asked questions I could not answer, I was honest and invited students to learn with me using grammar books and online resources. Not knowing everything was not a failure, but rather an opportunity for mutual learning. Being vulnerable in this way helped me relate to students and their challenges as language learners to connect with them more authentically.”