Deanna Love, '11, receives an award from Carthage President F. Gregory Campbell at Spring Honors Convocation.

Carthage alumna receives Fulbright scholarship

September 23, 2011

Deanna Love, '11, of Kenosha, Wis., has been awarded a Fulbright U.S. Student grant to teach English as a foreign language in Argentina. Ms. Love is a resident of Kenosha, Wis., who majored in Spanish, English, and accounting.

"Carthage allowed me to do a triple major, in fields as diverse as Spanish, English, and accounting. I'll be using all three in Argentina."

Ms. Love is the fourth Carthage student to receive a Fulbright grant in recent years. Ashley A. LaFontaine, '09, was awarded a Fulbright grant two years ago to teach English in South Korea (read more). Three years ago, Stephanie Coulis, '08, and Emily Mulder, '08, were selected as Fulbright recipients, going to France and Germany, respectively.

Two other Carthage students received prestigious DAAD Undergraduate Scholarships, awarded by the German Academic Exchange Service, to study in Germany for a semester. They are Karin Wirth, '13, of Springfield, Ill., and Thomas Johnson, '13, of Orland Hills, Ill. (read more)

Five Carthage students have received DAAD scholarships in the past five years. Karin and Thomas were preceded by Philip Young, '07; Jean Brody, '11' and Kim Likier, '12.

• • •

Ms. Love is presently an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer, supervising the Student Work and Mentoring Place at a public library branch in St. Paul, Minn. In that role, she supervises work-study students from several colleges in the Twin Cities, and recruits and schedules community volunteers. She describes the SWAMP as a homework center, used by students from kindergarten through college.

"We have a lot of immigrants" in the multicultural neighborhood where the library is located, she points out, including a substantial Hmong population. "We have people who come in to learn English, or to study for GEDs," she adds.

Ms. Love was delighted to go to Argentina, since Fulbright recipients there teach in colleges, compared to many countries where they are assigned to high schools. "That's a chance for a more diverse and varied curriculum," she says.

In Argentina, she will also be expected to do an additional service project. "I'm hoping to work with a non-profit that assists businesses," she adds. "Carthage allowed me to do a triple major, in fields as diverse as Spanish, English, and accounting. I'll be using all three in Argentina."

After her 10-month Fulbright commitment, which starts next spring, Ms. Love plans to pursue graduate studies, perhaps in a field related to international business, either in the United States or a Spanish-speaking country.

• • •

History Department chair Stephen Udry coordinates a five-member committee that interviews prospective Fulbright candidates. Other members are Gregory Baer, associate professor of German; Dan Choffnes, assistant professor of biology; Erik Kulke, assistant professor of modern languages and study abroad coordinator; and Robert Schlack, professor of economics. Profs. Baer, Schlack and Udry have received Fulbright grants.

"We had an excellent group" of 2011 Fulbright candidates, Prof. Udry says. "I was very surprised we didn't get more awards." Prof. Udry recalls that "when I started, we'd get one or two applicants. Last year we had 10, this year we have eight so far."

Why the growth? "We have a better quality of student, and our students are more aware of the opportunity," Prof. Udry says. "We've had success in the past, they realize a Carthage student can do this."

Prof. Udry tries to build interest by sending students emails on the program in the spring, and holding an informational session in the fall. "I had a wonderful Fulbright experience," he says.

• • •

DAAD Scholarship winner Karin Wirth is a German major, with a minor in secondary education, who will study changes in how secondary schools in the state of Bavaria prepare students for higher education and future jobs. She will study in Munich.

Thomas Johnson is a double major in German and criminal justice. He will research the effects of law enforcement presence on perceived security in German transportation hubs. He has a German language scholarship.

"Both Tom and Karin are excellent students and leaders in the classroom and on campus," says Prof. Baer. "These students' success in this very competitive process, and the fact that two Carthage students have won in a single year, are indicative of the German program's growth — both in terms of quantity and quality — in recent years. To have two DAAD scholarships in one year for a school our size is certainly an accomplishment."

Prof. Baer says he holds a meeting each year for students who are considering studying in Germany, and informs them about DAAD scholarships.

"We're being more active, getting students to think about it earlier," he says. "Sometimes when students hear about other students from Carthage who have won, it makes it more real for them."

Pursuing prestigious scholarships requires teamwork between students and faculty, and a lot of preparation. Prof. Baer believes that effort is worthwhile. "It's not something you can sit down the night before the deadline and write your essay," he says. "It's a months-long process, a process that forces you to think about your future. Even if you don't win one of the awards, it's beneficial."