Fulbrights Flourish at Nazareth

Nazareth College is proud to announce that the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board has selected Teri Bunce '14 of Spencer, N.Y., Katelynn Kundrata '14G of Hamlin, N.Y., and Matthew Maloney '14 of Fairport, N.Y. as recipients of the 2014-2015 U.S. Junior Fulbright award.

In addition, Sarah Farnand '06, '13G of Webster, N.Y., who applied "at large," was also chosen.

Bunce, an international studies and history double major with a minor in French, will teach English in South Korea. Her proposed community engagement project is to establish an a cappella English ensemble for teenaged boys and girls that builds upon the students' interest in American pop music and promotes group solidarity, team building, and cultural exchange. Upon her return, Bunce plans to attend graduate school in the Washington, D.C. area and pursue a career in international relations.

Kundrata is a TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages) major in the School of Education. She will teach English in primary and secondary schools in Malaysia. Kundrata's proposed community engagement project is to involve her students and the community in an art project focused on cultural understanding. Through art, students would depict the beauty of their surroundings using a variety of methods including drawing, painting, and writing. Kundrata would facilitate the creation of a mural (temporary or permanent) as a culminating activity, allowing students to practice their language and artistic skills collaboratively. She plans to continue teaching English upon her return.

Maloney is a history and Spanish double major with minors in legal studies and political science. He will travel to Andorra to teach English at Centre de Formació Professional to young adults ages 16 to 18. Maloney's proposed community engagement project is to start an Ultimate Frisbee team. Maloney played on a team in Valencia, Spain, and has been captain of Nazareth College’s Ultimate Frisbee team for three years.

Farnand (psychology and inclusive education; teaching English to speakers of other languages) will teach English in a secondary school in India. She will also research the relationship between teacher preparation programs and teacher satisfaction at a local university. Based on her findings, she will develop workshops devoted to preparing teachers for an enriching educational career in India. Her proposed community engagement project includes working with local elementary schools to provide English literacy support for students and collaborating with elementary teachers to create literacy kits for students to use at school and home. Upon her return to the U.S., Farnand plans to continue to teach ESOL classes, share her experiences with colleagues and pre-service teachers, and enroll in a post-master’s program in educational leadership.

Nazareth students have received 18 Fulbright awards in the past five years. In October 2013, the Chronicle of Higher Education recognized Nazareth among the top producers of Fulbright U.S. student awards in its category of master's institutions—a major accomplishment since Nazareth was one of the smallest colleges on that list.

Established in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, the Fulbright Program's objective is to build mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the rest of the world. Sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Fulbright Program is America's flagship international education exchange. Approximately 279,500 "Fulbrights," 105,400 from the United States and 174,100 from other countries, have participated in the Program since its inception more than 50 years ago.

Teri Bunce

Teri Bunce '14

Katelynn Kundrata

Katelynn Kundrata '14G

Matthew Maloney

Matthew Maloney '14

Sarah Farnand

Sarah Farnand '06, '13G

For more on Nazareth’s Fulbright program, visit naz.edu/fulbright.