Each year, the Fulbright program awards scholarships that allow students, artists and other professionals the opportunity to work and learn in more than 100 nations. With goals of increasing understanding through intercultural exchanges, the program fits right in with Concordia's philosophy to Become Responsibly Engaged in the World. Concordia is among the leading Lutheran colleges to secure Fulbright scholarships.
April Reino '12 was the 30th Concordia student to receive a Fulbright Award since the college began participating in the program. She spent a year studying at the University of Vienna and taught English in the city as well.
Many other Cobbers, including Mark Dixon '06, Elsa Lund '14, Olivia Gear '15 and Tyler Huwe '16, have received Fulbright scholarships to live and work in Germany. Lund, Gear and Huwe taught English, and Dixon studied manuscripts concerning Peter Böhler's 1738 mission to Africans enslaved in South Carolina.
Concordia not only has sent forth students to lead and serve in the world but also has brought the world to Concordia. After visiting Kwon Kisoo's studio in South Korea with art students, faculty recommended he apply to the Fulbright scholar-in-residence program. Kwon was awarded a Fulbright and was a scholar-in-residence at Concordia in fall 2015. During his time on campus, Kwon shared his expertise in traditional and contemporary South Korean art with Concordia's students while teaching the course "In Painting and Mixed Media" and presented some of his work at the annual Faith, Reason and World Affairs Symposium.
Pictured: Mark Dixon and Olivia Gear connect at an annual meeting for Fulbright Fellows residing in Germany.