KENNESAW, Ga. | Mar 4, 2025

 

Four Kennesaw State University students have been named semifinalists for the Fulbright Student Program for the 2025-26 academic year, and one has been named a semifinalist for the Fulbright UK Summer Institute. 

Last year, almost 9,000 Fulbright applications were turned in to the National Screening Committee. Generally, around 800 Fulbright are awarded annually to American Scholars to go abroad. The Fulbright Program is designed to create connections in a complex and changing world. Program participants pursue graduate studies, conduct research, or teach English abroad. 

KSU’s semifinalists this year are Kathleen Cappello, AKeera Ford, Alicia Olguin-Macedo, Bon Varlet, and Emily Cruse. 

Kathleen "Katie" Cappello, a senior pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering, seeks to serve as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant offering English courses specializing in engineering and science terminology to students in Croatia. "I am honored to be a Fulbright semifinalist for Croatia," says Katie. "I look forward to supporting students, fostering cultural exchange, and making a meaningful impact through education." 

A semifinalist for the Fulbright Study Award and currently finishing up her degrees in psychology and Black Studies, AKeera Ford hopes to pursue a master’s in Crime, Justice, and Psychology at the University of Leicester. She aims to examine how the UK's victim-centered frameworks promote long-term recovery, offering insights that could help shift the U.S. justice system from retribution to restoration. 

If granted the Fulbright ETA to Spain, semifinalist and recent KSU Journey Honors College alumna Alicia Olguin-Macedo will use creative teaching techniques based on her multilingual upbringing to connect with her students. A criminal justice major, she also seeks to teach English in migrant and refugee support centers. “As someone who wants to pursue immigration law as a career, the opportunity to possibly teach English in Spain and work with immigrants and refugees abroad would be very impactful and eye-opening," says Alicia. "I am so grateful for my support through this process.”

Bon Varlet, who is completing a degree in information technology, is seeking a Fulbright Study Award in Belgium to pursue information security research at KU Leuven. She is interested in developing cybersecurity policies that enhance the protection and management of digital information while addressing unique challenges that archival sites can face: “The U.S. and Belgium both face gaps in the funding, prioritization, and tools dedicated to cybersecurity.” By examining how Belgium addresses these challenges, she will be able to provide valuable insights on effective strategies and offer broader lessons for global cybersecurity efforts. 

Emily Cruse, KSU Journey Honors student, seeks to attend a Fulbright UK Summer Institute that will research the ways that culture and politics intersect in Belfast, with an emphasis on peace, governance, and national identity. Emily shared her excitement, saying, “As a political science major, I have learned that to truly understand a country, and especially a conflict, you must understand its people. I am beyond excited by the prospect of studying and living among the people of Belfast for three weeks and so grateful for everyone who has encouraged and supported me through the application process.”

 

For more information about prestigious opportunities like the Fulbright, contact the Office of National and International Scholarships and Fellowships at onisf@kennesaw.edu.