Student Shaped By SLU Earns Fulbright Award

Student Shaped By SLU Earns Fulbright Award

Bridget Guerin (A&S '25) has been selected for the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program.

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. In partnership with more than 160 countries worldwide, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers opportunities to graduating college seniors, graduate students, and young professionals. Program participants pursue graduate study, conduct research, or teach English abroad.

Guerin, an international studies and French major at SLU, earned a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship award to teach in France.

The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant program places recipients in classrooms overseas to supplement local English language instruction. There are also some specialty grants within certain countries for internships and similar opportunities. Grantees receive eight to 10 months of funding to complete their award.

"I applied because the program is an ideal intersection of my strengths and passions," Guerin said. "I am pursuing a career in International Relations, so I am continuously working to improve my French proficiency level. Being able to live and work in France for an extended period is an incredible opportunity for language growth and cross-cultural exchange."

Guerin said she's also looking forward to working with young students. She will assist in an English classroom at a Paris high school and work at the EducationUSA center as a mentor for high school students interested in studying in the United States.

"I have always loved working with kids and helping them grow in an academic setting," she said. "I am excited to draw on my past teaching experiences to provide my students with a positive English-learning experience."

Throughout the process, Guerin worked with SLU's Honors Program on her application.

"I am immensely grateful to the Honors Program at SLU for teaching and guiding me 'Jesuit style' over the course of my four years as a SLU student," she said.

Guerin credited Rebecca Muich, Ph.D., director of the honors program, for offering needed support during the lengthy application process. She also thanked French professors Pascale Perraudin, Ph.D., and Dan Nickolai, Ph.D., for their assistance.

"They were always willing to lend their time and support to me."

Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected through a merit-based competition that considers academics, personal qualifications, language preparation, and the quality of the proposed project, as well as how it fits into Fulbright's aim of promoting mutual understanding among nations.

Those interested in applying for a Fulbright or another nationally or internationally competitive scholarship or fellowship should contact Muich at [email protected] or visit the Office of Competitive Fellowships and Scholarships webpage for more information.