The University of South Florida’s boundless commitment to student success has been nationally recognized as USF has been named a Fulbright Top Producing Institution for U.S. students in a ranking published by The Chronicle of Higher Education. 

This is the first time USF has been named a Fulbright Top Producing Institution for student awards. USF’s 10 students selected for awards place the university among the top 60 for all national doctoral institutions and ranks second among universities in the state of Florida. 

Expanding horizons

Awarding around only 2,000 grants per year, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program aims to build lasting ties between the U.S. and other countries, as it operates in 160 countries across the globe. 
 
“My Fulbright experience has been nothing short of amazing,” said Yoel Gebrai, a PhD student in USF’s College of Engineering civil engineering graduate degree program.  
 
Gebrai, the recipient of a Fulbright U.S. Student Program Research Grant, is currently in Ghana, researching moringa oleifera, a widely cultivated multifunctional crop. In Ghana, Gebrai is developing the framework for assessing moringa oleifera's social, economic and environmental impacts in the country. 
 
"I have been able to meet so many great people here in Ghana and learned so much about the Ghanaian culture. Cross-cultural experiences like this lead to self-reflection and serve to expand your worldview,” said Gebrai. “The memories, experiences, and relationships that I’m forming here in Ghana will serve me well in both my personal and professional life."

World-class educational experiences

Since its inception in 1946, more than 400,000 individuals from all backgrounds and fields have participated in the Fulbright program – including recent university graduates, teachers, scientists, researchers, artists, and others. New to their ranks is Sydni Schlosser, a current Fulbright U.S. Student Program Study Grant awardee studying for a master’s degree in the Netherlands: 
 
“I applied for a Fulbright student grant in order to learn from another culture and group of researchers about methods in health economics to further explore my interest in health care markets,” said Sydni Schlosser, who completed her undergraduate education at USF with degrees in economics and cellular and molecular biology.  
 
“Pursuing my master’s degree and performing research has opened me up to a new academic lifestyle and helped me to develop my interests in biotechnology and health care markets and where I hope to fit into it in the future,” said Schlosser, adding: “I feel very fortunate to have been learning from an institution that has developed so many different instruments to measure well-being that are being used worldwide.” 

Lasting impact

At USF, Fulbright applicants are guided by the Office of National Scholars (ONS). Over the past decade, ONS has helped to produce over 70 Fulbright program recipients.  
 
“Over the past 10 years, hundreds of USF students have become national scholarship recipients,” said ONS Director, Sayandeb Basu. “The number of students receiving the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship [focused on research], Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship [focused on study abroad], and the Fulbright U.S. Student Program has risen steadily. Last year, 98 USF students received national scholarships and fellowships.”  
 
Reflecting on the success of ONS and USF’s involvement in the Fulbright program, USF Student Fulbright Program Advisor, Lauren Chambers, noted the true impact has yet to come. “Fulbright alumni return home to make an impact on their communities thanks to an expanded worldview, a deep appreciation for their host country and its people, and a larger network of colleagues and friends. We are thrilled to see the incredible work of our students recognized with Fulbright Top Producing Institution status.” 
 
Current USF students and alumni who are interested in learning more about the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and applying, can contact Chambers at lschumac@usf.edu.