A fourth Nebraska Wesleyan University student has won a Fulbright Scholarship. Megan Meyerson of Lincoln will spend the next year in Brazil where she will teach English.
Meyerson graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University in May with a degree in Spanish and received her K-12 Spanish education certification.
She became interested in Brazil while studying abroad in Uruguay in 2011. While there she learned firsthand about the poverty-stricken neighborhoods and the affect they have on women and children’s safety. Meyerson volunteered at a local school, located in one of the poorest areas of Montevideo, Uruguay. Her daily commute by bus took her past homes made of scrap metal and horse-driven garbage trucks that locals dug through for household supplies.
“Because of this experience, I altered my future goals from that of teaching Spanish to pursuing a degree in law which will allow me to help those who are unable to help themselves,” said Meyerson.
Following her year in Brazil, Meyerson will attend law school where she will focus on human rights, immigration, or international education reform.
The Fulbright Scholarship is the flagship international education program sponsored by the United States government.
Three other Nebraska Wesleyan University students were awarded Fulbright scholarships this spring: Tom Schroeder, a political science and Spanish major from Lincoln, will teach English in Turkey; Samantha Wessels, an elementary education and special education major from Weeping Water, and Michael Pirnie, a political science and global studies major from Omaha, will both teach English in Taiwan next year.
Forty-seven Nebraska Wesleyan students have now won the prestigious honor with 32 of the awards coming in the past decade.
In addition, first year biology major Matt Schmitt of Lincoln was selected as a Fulbright Summer Institute participant. The Fulbright Summer Institute provides undergraduates the opportunity to study academic and cultural programs in the UK during the summer. Nine summer programs are offered with three to 10 students from across the country selected for each program.
Nebraska Wesleyan University English professor James Shea has also won a Fulbright Scholarship to teach at Hong Kong Baptist University next year. He is the third NWU professor in three years to receive a Fulbright Scholarship to teach abroad.