Deserved Distinctions

Lewis & Clark students and alumni earn a record number of Fulbrights, among other prestigious awards.

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Lewis & Clark students and graduates are winning a bevy of awards from prestigious organizations that include the Fulbright Program, the National Science Foundation, and the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation.

Seven members of the class of 2014 and five other alumni will spend the next year overseas after receiving prestigious awards from the Fulbright Program. This is the largest number of Lewis & Clark students and alumni earning Fulbright honors in a single year. Three of our students have been named Goldwater Scholars this year—more than at all other Oregon colleges and universities combined.

These accolades attest to the inspiring energy and intellect of our students, outstanding teaching and mentoring by our faculty, and the many ways our alumni advance knowledge.

Learn more about the award recipients in the stories below.

Fulbright Award
Maya Gold ’14
“Lewis & Clark has taught me to never be complicit in complacency. Moreover, it has taught me the fundamentals of humanity, those that transcend every arbitrary country line.”
Fulbright Award
Eve Ben Ezra ’14
“If I could go back in time, I’d still choose Lewis & Clark. I think anyone who’s had the opportunity to go here, who fits well with the college, should. It’s an opportunity that I wouldn’t trade for anything…except maybe my Fulbright.”
Fulbright Award
Laura Burroughs ’14
What Laura is doing with her Fulbright: “I will be teaching English in a small town outside Graz, Austria. In high school, I stayed near there with a host family for two weeks, so I’m thrilled to return. Also, having studied abroad in Germany last year, I’m interested in experiencing Austria’s differences.”
Fulbright Award
Charlie Patterson ’14
“This Fulbright fellowship will not only allow me to learn from distinguished Chinese experts and continue to study Chinese; it will also give me the chance to cultivate many more cross-cultural relationships.”
Fulbright Award
Laura Schroeder ’14
“To me, languages are windows to fascinating and different ways of viewing the world, and learning a new language both gives us a glimpse through these windows and allows us to interact with those on the other end.”
Fulbright Award
Lindsay Burnette ’12
“I chose Lewis & Clark because of its focus on international relations and global understanding. Students and professors seem to share the understanding that living abroad and within a new culture is invaluable to one’s education and personal growth.”
Fulbright Award
Joe Ellerbroek ’13
Joe on why he wanted to teach in Austria: “I had a chance to be in Austria during my year abroad and felt right at home with the culture, the food, and the mountains. I’m excited to hear what the students think about the world, and I’m excited to be there as they build the same relationships that I built from learning a language.”
Fulbright Award
Abby Vining ’12
“I applied to teach in Norway because I have come to see that many of the problems faced by schools and students are not necessarily educational in nature.”
Fulbright Award
Abbie Hebein’12
“I am eager to discover and understand the intersection of art, history, identity, and education within a culture that is saturated in the arts.”
Fulbright Award
Christa Giesecke ’14
“I love that Lewis & Clark students are always quick to consider the implications that Western actions might have around the world. Very often in international affairs classes, students can speak about specific countries with authority from having lived in them.”
Fulbright Award
Haley Farrar JD ’11
Haley on how law school prepared her to go study restorative justice implementation and facilitation strategies in New Zealand: “L&C gave me the time, space, and support to dive into this topic academically. Throughout law school, I was able to find a solid theoretical understanding of restorative justice, which has served my practical use and application well.”
Truman Scholarship
Joyce Iwashita ’15
“My Lewis & Clark education helped me immensely. My classes have made me a better writer, speaker, and critical thinker—skills I heavily relied on for my application and interview.”
Goldwater Scholarships:
Colin Gavin ’15, Sarah Lowenstein ’15, and Keira Roberts ’15
Roberts on working closely with professor Anne Bentley: “I am very grateful to be in a school where I can have one-on-one mentoring; this is an exceptional opportunity for me to gain valuable (and fun!) research experience. Especially as a woman entering the male-dominated STEM fields, it is really helpful to have such a supportive female mentor.”
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships:
Benjamin Hoffman ’13, Brandon Nichter ’08, Louis Prahl ’10, Dylan Paul Smith ’11, Hannah Somhegyi ’11
Dylan Smith on Lewis & Clark: “The research experience I received and the contacts I established I still take with me today, and are the basis of research I wish to carry out in the future.”
100 Projects For Peace Initiative
Nway Khine ’15, Sam Shugart ’15
Khine on why the group decided to teach English to orphans in Myanmar: “I am from Taunggyi, Myanmar, and I have always wanted to do something for my own country. After I came to Lewis & Clark, I met so many people who wanted to give back to society, so my desire to do something for my country grew even more. In light of the ethnic and religious violence in Myanmar, I thought I could do something to promote peace and improve the situation. When Sam told me about the $10,000 grant from 100 Projects for Peace, we began to actively find ways that could potentially target the violence.”