Jayhawks named semifinalists for student Fulbright awards
LAWRENCE – Eight University of Kansas students and one alumna have advanced to the semifinalist round for Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards, which will provide funding to study, conduct research or teach English abroad for the 2024-2025 academic year.
This year’s Fulbright semifinalists represent diverse academic fields across campus, coming from the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and the schools of Journalism & Mass Communication and Education & Human Sciences. The semifinalists’ locations of proposed study span three continents and eight countries.
The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program and is designed to increase mutual understanding between Americans and people of other countries. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program operates in more than 160 countries worldwide.
Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected based on academic or professional achievement as well as their record of service and demonstrated leadership in their respective fields. Fulbright grants provide funding for round-trip travel, maintenance for one academic year, health and accident insurance and, where relevant, tuition.
Finalists and alternates will be announced later this spring.
2024-2025 Fulbright semifinalists
Raneem Alasmi has applied to be an English teaching assistant in Switzerland. Originally from Syria and then Kansas City, Kansas, Alasmi will graduate in December with a bachelor’s degree in journalism with a focus on multimedia and minor in French. Her parents are Hanna Alasmi and Nazzal Alasmi.
Jenna Bellemere has applied to be an English teaching assistant in Mexico. From Lawrence, Bellemere will graduate in May with bachelor’s degrees in anthropology and women, gender & sexuality studies. Her parents are Fred Bellemere and Kim Mahanna-Bellemere.
Samantha Brant has proposed to study and conduct research in education at Durham University in the United Kingdom. From Topeka and currently living in Kansas City, Missouri, Brant received a master’s degree in education from KU in 2015. Her parents are David and Deba Brant.
Anabel Cardoza has applied to be an English teaching assistant in Mexico. From Kansas City, Kansas, Cardoza will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in linguistics and a minor in Spanish. Her parents are Jeronimo Cardoza and María Cortez.
Finn Finnerty has applied to be an English teaching assistant in Germany. From Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Finnerty will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in foreign language education and minors in German and Spanish. Their parents are Miranda and Scott Finnerty.
Alicia Houser has proposed to travel to Tanzania to study and conduct research in history. Houser is a doctoral student in history. Houser has a master’s degree in public and international affairs from the University of Pittsburgh and bachelor’s degrees in international relations and African studies from Austin College. Her parents are Bryan Houser and Janice Hileman.
Rachel Paese has applied to be an English teaching assistant in Spain. From St. Louis, Paese will graduate in May with bachelor’s degrees in English and Spanish and a minor in sociology. Her parents are Matthew Paese and Becky Paese-Mullen.
Kahill Perkins has applied to be an English teaching assistant in Malta. From Lawrence, Perkins will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in creative writing and is pursuing an accelerated master’s degree in literary theory. Her parents are William Perkins and Jennifer Dixon-Perkins.
Theresa Read has proposed to travel to Sweden to study and conduct research in chemistry. Living in Shawnee, Read will graduate in May with bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and biochemistry. Her husband is Justin Read, and her son is Dalamar Read.