Two Lebanon Valley College alumni have been named Fulbright Finalists for the 2024-25 academic year, the college has announced.
Lindsay Keiser and Mary Beard will have opportunities to enhance their educations abroad, according to the release.
Keiser, of Fredericksburg, graduated Saturday from LVC’s School of Science with a bachelor of science in ACS Chemistry and a minor in History. She was awarded a Fulbright Study/Research Award to complete a master of science program in Analytical and Polymer Science at Warwick University in the United Kingdom.
Beard, of Lebanon, is a 2020 graduate of the School of Fine Arts. She was selected for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award to the Slovak Republic.
“Lindsay and Mary will benefit tremendously from their Fulbright experiences and being immersed in another culture,” said Dr. Philip Benesch, director of Pre-Law and External Scholarships & Fellowships and an associate professor of political science at LVC. “The academic, professional, and social knowledge they gain will serve them well throughout their careers and lives.”
At LVC, Keiser participated in student-faculty research, the college’s literary magazine Green Blotter, and The Pride of the Valley Marching Band. She was a member of the flute and percussion ensembles and presented research at the annual Inquiry Symposium and an American Chemical Society National Conference. She was a member of the Rho Rho chapter of the Gamma Sigma Epsilon Chemistry Honor Society, Sigma Alpha Phi Honor Society, and Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society.
As an undergraduate, Beard participated in a college-sponsored service trip to the Dominican Republic, studied in LVC’s Maastricht, The Netherlands, program, and was inducted into the Sigma Iota Rho and Pi Sigma Alpha honor societies. She is a health liaison for Church World Service and a substitute teacher in the Lebanon School District.
According to the release, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program “expands perspectives through academic and professional advancement and cross-cultural dialogue” and “creates connections in a complex and changing world.” The program partners with more than 140 countries worldwide and offers opportunities in all academic disciplines.
The program is available to graduating college seniors, graduate students, and young professionals from all backgrounds. Program participants can pursue graduate study, conduct research, or teach English abroad.
Benesch can be contacted at benesch@lvc.edu by students interested in applying to the Fulbright Program or any other national or international fellowships and scholarships.
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