JBU student receives prestigious Fulbright Award, will teach in Turkey

John Brown University English Education senior, Sarah Hubbard, was selected to receive a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Turkey for the 2015-16 academic year. Hubbard will graduate from John Brown University in May and depart for Turkey this fall to take up her appointment at a Turkish university.

The Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship is a component of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and is sponsored and managed by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs under the U.S. Department of State. Hubbard submitted her application against undergraduate, masters, and doctorate students nationwide and is one of approximately 1,700 students to receive this highly competitive, prestigious fellowship.

“Sarah is the first JBU student to receive a Fulbright award,” said Dr. Brad Gambill, associate professor of English and coordinator or the Office of Undergraduate Scholarship & Prestigious Fellowships. “Sarah is a go-getter: presenting at research conferences since her freshman year, pursing international teaching experience, maintaining great community relationships. She was a strong candidate before she even began the application process.”

During her time at JBU, Hubbard spent two summers teaching English in China and Lithuania and discovered that teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) was something she loved. Hubbard initially applied for the Fulbright at the encouragement of Gambill after seeing a flyer on a bulletin board.

“The Fulbright seemed like a long shot,” Hubbard said. “But, Dr. Gambill assured me that even the experience of applying would be worth it as I worked through who I am and what I am most passionate about in life.”

With the support and feedback of faculty advisors Ms. Grace Davis, Dr. Ed Klotz and Dr. Warren Roby, Hubbard completed the extensive application process last fall that included a personal statement, statement of grant purpose, multiple letters of recommendations, and a comprehensive survey of her hobbies and extracurricular activities.