Nine recent Occidental College graduates, including seven members of the Class of 2025, recently received awards from the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program, which facilitates cultural exchange by supporting research, graduate study, and English language instruction abroad.
The program, administered by the Department of State, grants two primary awards: the open study/research awards, which support projects proposed in specific countries, and the English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Awards, which place grantees in overseas schools to supplement local English language instruction. Jennifer Baidon Carrillo ’24, Paris Chang ’25, Liisa Halloran ’24, Marina Marcus ’25, Agustin Melgar ’25, Sophie Prado-Tucker ’25, Anya Puri ’25, Sarah Titcombe ’25, and Katie Vyhnal ’25 were named awardees, while Nate Lundstrom ’25, Lily Ramirez ’23, and Liam Schedler ’25 were named alternates.
Baidon Carrillo, a diplomacy and world affairs major, received a Fulbright ETA to teach in Spain, where she will volunteer for local immigration centers and explore Spain’s soccer culture.
Chang, an English major, received a Fulbright ETA to teach in Taiwan. While there, she will lead dance classes and share her love of Asian American artists.
Halloran, a media arts and culture major, received a Fulbright Research Award to film a documentary on the history of gender violence in Italy. She also plans to volunteer with a refugee organization and join a volleyball league or gym.
Marcus, an English major, received a Fulbright ETA to teach in Romania, where she hopes to join a book club and connect with the local Jewish community.
Melgar, a Chinese studies and music double major, received a Fulbright ETA to teach in Taiwan. He plans to share American and Mexican musical traditions with his students, while also joining a choir and learning about Taiwanese musical traditions.
Prado-Tucker, a history and art history double major, received a Fulbright ETA to teach in Taiwan, where she hopes to share her love of art and volunteer to teach adults English.
Titcombe, a biochemistry major, received a Fulbright Study Award to fund a biomedical research MRes degree at Imperial College London. While there, she plans to join a club rugby team and volunteer with a local health clinic.
Vyhnal, a biology major, received a Fulbright Research Award to study the relationship between ant hosts and parasitic “zombie” fungi in Malaysia. She also hopes to join a yoga studio and other student groups.
Puri, a cognitive science major, was offered a Fulbright ETA to teach in Spain but has declined the award.
