Two North Park University Chicago Students, One Alum Earn Fulbright Student Awards

North Park University, a comprehensive university on Chicago's North Side, is known for its deep tradition of Christian faith, diversity, and innovation. But the 3,200-student institution also has another distinction: since 2008 the school has produced 19 Fulbright Student awards and produced more Fulbright Student award winners in the Master's Institution category for the 2015-16 school year than any other college or university in Illinois.

And North Park has added to its remarkable Fulbright Program success with the naming of two students and one alumna as recipients of the prestigious international educational exchange program begun in 1946.

So how does North Park compete so effectively with larger, more well-known Chicago and U.S. colleges and universities? According to North Park's Fulbright Program faculty advisor and two of this year's award winners, it's a combination of understanding the program's rich history, exacting application requirements, building a compelling personal narrative, and learning from the school's previous award recipients.

Dr. Linda Parkyn, professor of Spanish and a previous Fulbright Scholar and Fulbright Senior Specialist, has spearheaded North Park's participation and extraordinary performance in the Fulbright Program as a mentor and guiding force since 2007. She believes awakening students to the possibilities that language and culture can provide around the world and the commitment to serve are key drivers behind North Park's success.

"I strive to light a fire for continued learning and service abroad among students interested in pursuing the Fulbright Student award and to guide high-performing students throughout the rigorous application process," she said. "Candidates must be committed to sharing their language and culture with citizens in their chosen countries and they must be flexible and open to doing so in schools and universities with native students who want to experience a little bit of all the United States has to offer the world."

"It takes guts; it takes rigor, it takes commitment to excellence," she continued. "And our track record has proven that North Park University students can compete on the national stage with many other top colleges and universities. I could not be more proud of our applicants."

For Elizabeth Wallace, an Oak Lawn, Ill., native who graduated this year with a bachelor of arts in Spanish, being selected as a Fulbright Student grantee was the culmination of an application process that began in October 2015. "It's such an advantage to have mentors and advisors like Dr. Parkyn and faculty working hand-in-hand with you, particularly on the personal statements you have to write," she said. "Both myself and my fellow applicants were challenged with the number of drafts it took to fine-tune our personal essays and feel confident in the final product."

Wallace, who was awarded an English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) and also holds a K-12 teaching license and an English as a Second Language (ESL) teaching endorsement, will travel to Lima, Peru, in March 2017 to begin her nine-month teaching assignment, most likely at a university. She believes her previous experience studying in Cuenca, Ecuador, had a significant impact on her decision to pursue a Fulbright award. "My experiences both inside and outside the classroom convinced me that I wanted to build on my academic and clinical training at North Park and apply those skills to my Fulbright application," she added.

Following her ETA placement in Peru, Wallace plans to return to Chicago and teach Spanish, possibly at her high school alma mater, Richards, or in government service.

Katie Bast, a 2016 graduate with a double major in English literature and secondary education, was awarded a Fulbright ETA and will begin her nine-month placement this fall in Macedonia, teaching English reading and writing in a secondary school setting.

A native of Holland, Mich., Bast participated in a wide variety of both academic and non-academic activities during her time at North Park, serving as a writing advisor for three years and taking trips with Global Partnerships and the Sankofa Experience. She credits her upbringing with instilling a love for teaching and helping others.

"My parents were both teachers and loved reading, writing, and literature. I embraced their love for teaching and language and it translated tremendously for me at North Park's School of Education," she explained. "I've learned how to teach English in different contexts because of the diverse schools I've taught in through my placements with the School of Education."

Bast also echoed Wallace's experiences in the demanding application process. "As an English teacher I considered myself a good writer and welcomed the constructive criticism from Dr. Parkyn and my other advisors," she said. "But after six or seven drafts of my essay I began to wonder if I had what it took to advance to the first round cut. And once I made the first round and submitted my application there's a waiting period before being notified if you made the list of finalists. It was definitely pins and needles time for me but so rewarding once I was notified of my selection."

While details of her ETA placement are still being ironed out, Bast anticipates teaching English in the municipality vocational secondary school Mosha Pijade in Tetova, Macedonia. "I'm very excited about the mutual exchange of knowledge and culture with my students, and I'll have other English teachers and a mentor to help guide me along the way," she noted.

When Bast completes her program she plans to return to Chicago to teach English in a middle or high school setting, either in the Chicago Public Schools system or in the suburbs. "I'm so looking forward to seeing how I grow as a teacher through the Fulbright experience and be able to apply what I learn in the classroom and community to my teaching career," she said.

North Park's third 2016 Fulbright Student grantee, alumna, and Grand Rapids, Mich., native Bethany Joseph, has yet to receive the details of her 10-month ETA placement in Mexico this August, but has already benefitted from her study abroad in Argentina as a junior. The Spanish and communications studies major said the experience "filled me with enthusiasm for Latin America and its rich culture, people, and tradition. And North Park significantly expanded my worldview and taught me to appreciate the beauty of intercultural relationships."

Joseph intends to work in a nonprofit environment following her Fulbright experience, whether in Latin America or in the United States. "I anticipate being part of an organization that provides services to lower-income families," she said.

About the Fulbright Scholars Program

The Fulbright Program was established by the U.S. Congress in 1946, and is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. It is the largest U.S. international educational exchange program offering opportunities for students, scholars and professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and teaching in elementary and secondary schools worldwide. For more information visit http://us.fulbrightonline.org/.

About North Park University

For 125 years, North Park University has focused on the important task of preparing students for lives of significance and service. Located in Chicago and founded by the Evangelical Covenant Church, North Park is a Christian comprehensive university that serves nearly 3,200 undergraduate and graduate students from around the country and the world. Within a diverse, close-knit, urban community, North Park offers a values-based education to students through more than 40 undergraduate majors and an adult degree-completion program, as well as graduate and continuing education in business, nonprofit management, nursing, education, music, counseling psychology, and theology.

For more information about the university and its academic programs, visit www.northpark.edu.