The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs has recognized Colorado College for being one of the institutions of higher education that has the highest number of students selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.
This is the third year in a row CC has made this list and the fourth time in the last five years. Fulbright Top Producing Institutions such as CC value global connection and support members of their campus communities across the U.S. to pursue international opportunities.
Four CC alums were selected for Fulbright awards for the 2024-25 academic year. They include Haley Strom ’24 (English Teaching Assistant in Bulgaria), Denise Geronimo ’24 (Research in Philippines), Natalie Dellavalle ’18 (Research in Lesotho in Southern Africa), and Skyler Stark-Ragsdale ’21 (English Teaching Assistant in Mozambique). In addition, CC has one Fulbright scholar, Dr. Corina McKendry, Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the Environmental Program, who is currently in Costa Rica studying local governments’ climate actions.
CC is the only college in Colorado to make the list of top Fulbright producers at the undergraduate level.
“Each year, Fulbright grantees from Colorado College demonstrate intellectual curiosity and a deep passion for global engagement,” says CC Interim President Manya Whitaker. “Through international research and cultural exchange, they gain invaluable skills — such as critical thinking, adaptability, and cross-cultural communication — which are hallmarks of a liberal arts education. Their experiences not only enrich their own academic and professional journeys, but also strengthen the communities around them as they bring back new perspectives, ideas, and connections.”
The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international academic exchange program. Since 1946, the program has provided over 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals of all backgrounds with the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research abroad.
Fulbright applicants at CC are supported by Campus Fulbright Program Adviser Roy Jo Sartin, who works with students and alums to pursue the scholarship in the areas of English Teaching Assistant, Research, and Study.
“CC students have a deep desire to understand and engage with the world beyond CC, and the Fulbright U.S. Student Program is an ideal way to do that,” says Sartin. “The students and alums who helped CC earn this designation this year are fantastic ambassadors for CC as they have moved into the next, global stages of their lives. As the Fulbright Program Adviser for CC, I am so proud of their accomplishments and I wish to commend them and everyone at CC who has supported and mentored them along the way, including especially CC’s Fulbright committee: Chelsea Walter, Heather Powell Browne, and Allen Bertsche.”
Sartin is gearing up for next year’s Fulbrights already, with 12 applicants advancing to semifinalist status for the 2025-2026 academic year. These 12 semifinalists tie CC’s record for most semifinalists, set in 2019, and matched in 2021 and 2024. Being named a Fulbright semifinalist is a significant achievement, due to the competitiveness and prestige of the Fulbright.
CC’s 12 semifinalists are:
- English Teaching Assistant Award Semifinalists:
- Maggie Anderson ’25, ETA Guatemala
- Emma Devlin ’25, ETA Argentina
- Anders Ripley ’25, ETA Spain
- Theo Tannahill ’25, ETA North Macedonia
- Henry Moraja ’25, ETA Germany
- Study Award Semifinalists:
- Nick Cvitanic ’25, Study Czech Republic
- Keiddrick Fizer ’24, Study Canada
- Lydia Hussain ’24, Study New Zealand
- Tia Vierling ’22, Study Taiwan
- Research Award Semifinalists:
- Andrew Han ’25, Research Argentina
- Luke Ortiz-Grabe ’25, Research Serbia
- Isabelle Wagenvoord ’25, Research Canada
The decisions on these applicants will be made on a rolling basis over the next few months.
Fulbright alumni work to make a positive impact on their communities, sectors, and the world, and have included 44 heads of state or government, 62 Nobel Laureates, 90 Pulitzer Prize winners, 82 MacArthur Fellows, and countless leaders and changemakers who build mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and those in other countries.