University Students Receive Federal Study Abroad Scholarship

University students from across the state will get the chance to study abroad with a federal scholarship. 

Seven students and recent alumni from three West Virginia universities will receive an array of Fulbright scholarships to study abroad in 2026.

A student from Marshall University, an alumnus from Shepherd University, as well as a student and four recent alumni from West Virginia University were among the recipients of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program award. 

Eli Hall, a 2025 graduate in political science, global studies, and environmental studies, is Shepherd University’s first student recipient of the award. He will focus on the interaction between people, the environment, and technological developments in Finland.

Katherine Germann, a student at Marshall’s Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, currently serves in the U.S. Navy while pursuing her Doctor of Medicine degree. During her grant year in Peru, Germann will research enhancing surveillance of respiratory infections. 

From WVU:

• Felicia Carrara, an August 2025 graduate with a degree in international studies and a minor in Russian studies, will serve as an English teaching assistant in Moldova. She previously studied Russian in Kyrgyzstan as a Critical Language Scholarship recipient.
• Bane Clements-Smart, who graduated in May with dual degrees in international studies and sustainability, will serve as an English teaching assistant in Tainan City, Taiwan, working with children to develop English proficiencies, and to facilitate intercultural exchanges with his students and the broader Taiwanese community.
• Joshua Freeman, who graduated in December 2024 with dual bachelor’s degrees in accounting and finance, will serve as an English teaching assistant in South Korea
• Sam Grinstead, who graduated in May 2024 with a master’s degree in wildlife and fisheries resources. will conduct a research study in Manaus, Brazil, quantifying mercury contamination in aquatic food webs using stable isotope analysis. An ecologist by trade, his graduate research focused on the effects of deforestation and dam construction on aquatic ecosystems in the Amazon. 
• Adelaide McDonald, who is currently pursuing dual master’s degrees in vocal performance and musicology, will also serve as an English teaching assistant in South Korea.  

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international exchange program, offering fellowships to students and recent graduates interested in building international relationships.

Earlier this month, Bluefield State University was named a Fulbright Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Institutional Leader for the fifth time.