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Two Georgia College & State University honors students were chosen to participate in the prestigious 2023 Fulbright UK Summer Institute.
Sophomores Alexis Keeney of Athens and Peyton Rodgers of Marietta are the first Georgia College students to receive this highly-selective scholarship.
This year, more than 700 students applied for less than 50 spots.
Keeney, a sociology major with a minor in public health, will study at Queen’s University Belfast for the “Understanding Northern Ireland” summer institute. Rodgers, a management major planning to minor in management information systems or public health, will do a joint study at Glasgow School of Art and University of Strathclyde for the “Technology, Innovation and Creativity” summer institute in Scotland.
“The Fulbright UK Summer Institutes are going to provide both Peyton and Alexis, who are already strong leaders on our campus, great opportunities to further develop their leadership skills through a global lens,” said Anna Whiteside, coordinator of the National Scholarships Office and assistant director of the Honors College.
“This is a competitive program with an interdisciplinary nature that naturally lends itself to the kind of students a strong liberal arts education can produce,” she said.
The Fulbright UK Summer Institutes are available in five locations in the United Kingdom. The program covers the cost of travel, tuition and fees, accommodations and some meals.
Administered by the Fulbright UK-US Commission, the programs are for undergraduate students with little or no travel experience outside North America. Participants get to explore the history, culture and heritage of the United Kingdom, while experiencing higher education in another country.
To apply, students must have a minimum GPA of 3.7 and at least two more undergraduate years left before earning a degree. They should also have ambassadorial skills, be sensitive to other cultures and have a genuine interest to learn more about the United Kingdom. Students who participate are also asked to further the Fulbright mission in some way upon returning to the United States.
At Queen’s University Belfast, Keeney will study the culture, identity, history and politics of the city; lasting solutions for local challenges in communities and place; and political extremism and polarization in the 21st century. She’s excited these topics align with her sociology major. The summer institute will help her reach the goal of becoming a medical social worker.
She’s also looking forward to seeing the Titanic exhibit where the historic ship was built.
“As a sociology student, it is my goal to study and learn about all different types of people,” Keeney said. “A big part of social work is interacting with diverse groups and being open to hearing new perspectives and experiences. Studying abroad is a great way to do that and to work on those skills.”
Rodger’s Scotland trip will last three weeks during late July to August. This will be her first trip abroad. The Glasgow School of Art and University of Strathclyde program is designed to help participants learn how Scotland developed into a technological and innovative society. Rodgers will attend lectures and seminars and go on study visits that focus on health, well-being and creative approaches for future cities.
Rodgers is particularly looking forward to exploring business programs at the university and its Human Centre for Entrepreneurship. Beyond school, she hopes to see Edinburgh Castle and marvel at Scottish architecture.
“I never in a million years would’ve guessed I would actually be selected for the program,” Rodgers said. “It takes a lot of hard work, dedication and writing to apply. But you never know what could happen when you set your mind to something.”
- Contributed