Twenty-four students and recent graduates from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have been selected as finalists for the 2025-2026 Fulbright US Student Program. The awards are for Tar Heels to study, conduct research, and teach English abroad. The prestigious Fulbright program is an initiative of the US Department of State to build connections throughout the world.
The twenty-four students received Fulbrights to eighteen countries on six continents. This year, Carolina has its first-ever Fulbright US Student Program recipients to Bahrain, Eswatini, Iceland, Kuwait, and Serbia. Through the Fulbright program, Tar Heels will conduct malaria research in Brazil, work on public health in Malawi, study transportation in Malaysia, collaborate with mathematicians in Germany, and teach English around the globe.
“UNC-Chapel Hill prepares students incredibly well to be competitive applicants for the Fulbright US Student Program,” said Marc Howlett, executive director of the Office of Distinguished Scholarships in Honors Carolina. “Carolina develops global leaders. Our students receive remarkable support through language instruction, study abroad, UNC Global, and area studies centers, just to name a few resources.”
The twenty-four Tar Heels will join almost 2,000 US citizens who received Fulbright US Student Program awards this year through a highly competitive national process. Last year, for the first time ever, Carolina became the number one public university for Fulbright US Student Program awards. Official statistics for this year will be released by the US Department of State in early 2026.
As part of the application process, Tar Heel applicants receive feedback and support from the UNC Fulbright committee, which is comprised of faculty and staff from across the university who lend their expertise and experience.
“This cycle we had a record 123 Fulbright US Student Program applicants. Each one received individualized feedback and support from campus experts,” said Howlett. “Over 40 Carolina faculty and staff volunteered to participate in our campus process. The campus culture of student support is unbelievable.”
Carolina students and alumni interested in applying to the Fulbright US Student Program for 2026-2027 should connect with the Office of Distinguished Scholarships. The application is open and the campus deadline to apply is September 7, 2025. Graduating seniors, alumni, and current graduate students can all apply to the Fulbright US Student Program through the campus process administered by the Office of Distinguished Scholarships in Honors Carolina.
UNC-Chapel Hill Fulbright US Student Program Finalists for 2025-2026
Australia
- Sarah Broyhill ’24 received a Fulbright Postgraduate Open Study/Research Scholarship to Australia
Bahrain
- Brianna Patterson ’25 received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award to Bahrain
Belgium
- Aditya Senthil ’25 received a Fulbright Open Study/Research Award to Belgium
Brazil
- Eliyambuya Baker ’23 received a Fulbright Open Study/Research Award to Brazil
Colombia
- Holly Adams ’24 (and current master of public policy graduate student) received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award to Colombia
- Marion Dewey ’25 received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award to Colombia
- Abigail Pender ’25 received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award to Colombia
Czech Republic
- Kaylee O’Brien ’25 received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award to the Czech Republic
- Victoria Wlosok ’25 received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award to the Czech Republic
Eswatini
- Klodia Badal ’25 received a Fulbright Open Study/Research Award to Eswatini
Germany
- Esther Chen ’23 (and current graduate student in linguistics) received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award to Germany
- Alexandra Whiteside ’25 received a Fulbright Open Study/Research Award to Germany
Iceland
- Aden Laws ’25 received a Fulbright Icelandic Ministry of Culture Award to Iceland
India
- Lenya Schmidt Neuhaus ’23 received a Fulbright-Nehru Open Study/Research Award to India
Indonesia
- Jason Yan ’25 received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award to Indonesia
Jamaica
- Kyle Lumsden ’25 received a Fulbright Open Study/Research Award to Jamaica
Kuwait
- Dalia Qarqour ’25 received a Fulbright Open Study/Research Award to Kuwait
Malawi
- Zachariah Stern, current medical student, received a Fulbright-Fogarty Public Health Fellowship Award to Malawi
Malaysia
- Corey Su ’17 received a Fulbright Open Study/Research Award to Malaysia
Mexico
- Alessandra Caceres Torres ’24 received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award to Mexico
Serbia
- Siddharth Reddy ’25 received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award to Serbia
Spain
- Kristin Bruffey ’23 received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award to Spain
- Kailey Patel ’25 received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award to Spain
- Trilla Teague ’25 received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award to Spain
