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Keith Lema '14 Awarded Fulbright Scholarship

Keith Lema ’14 will spend next academic year teaching English in Madrid through a prestigious English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) Fulbright Scholarship. The grant is funded through a partnership between Comunidad de Madrid, the regional government of Madrid, and the Binational Fulbright Commission of Spain and the United States.

Securing a post-graduation international experience is something Lema has focused his energy on since returning from a study abroad trip his junior year.

“Studying abroad in Argentina was the first time I left the U.S., and I absolutely loved the experience,” he says. “When the time came to return home, I felt myself wishing that I had chosen to study abroad for a year. I chose to channel that desire into an application for Fulbright.”

Several Fulbright scholarship programs exist to help students gain international experiences. Lema chose the ETA because he felt it would give him the greatest chance to interact with and learn from the people of Spain. “The ETA position also offered the opportunity to work with high school students on a Model UN program,” he says. “That aspect interested me as a political science and economics student.”

Although study abroad solidified Lema’s plans to pursue a Fulbright, he says there were two experiences at UMass that helped make him more competitive for the scholarship: the International Scholars Program in Commonwealth Honors College and an internship with the UMass Civic Initiative.

The International Scholars Program is a two-semester long course for sophomores that addresses global issues and culture and prepares students to study abroad during their junior year. When program participants return to the US, they also take part in a re-entry seminar. “This course is a great outlet to share stories but also direct your learning experience from abroad into research, a capstone project, or career plans,” says Lema.

The Civic Initiative experience helped Lema demonstrate clearly to the Fulbright Commission that he was interested in exploring new cultures and interacting with students and faculty from across the globe. Indeed, as a Civic Fellow, Lema has been able to work with professors from all over the world, as well students from Argentina, Iraq, Pakistan, and many other countries.

Deciding to apply for a Fulbright can be an intimidating experience for students. However, the Office of National Scholarship Advisement based in Commonwealth Honors College, offers a wealth of support – both guiding students through the online application and reviewing and critiquing essays and personal statements.  “ONSA and my faculty mentors were extremely helpful at every step of the process,” says Lema. Students interested in applying for a Fulbright next year are encouraged to look through the ONSA website and schedule an appointment with one of their advisors.

News Type: 

  • Student News