Five East Tennessee State University students, staff and faculty made the semifinals for the 2025-26 Fulbright Scholarships, with winners to be announced by June.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program partners with over 140 countries to offer opportunities in all academic disciplines to accomplished graduating college seniors, graduate students and young professionals. Program participants can pursue graduate study, conduct research or teach English abroad.

"These Fulbright successes are testament not only to the hard work, dedication and excellence of the students, faculty and staff who applied for the awards but also to the collaborative efforts of so many at ETSU who provided guidance, insight and expertise,” said Dr. Christopher Keller, dean of the Honors College.  

“The beauty of prestigious awards like Fulbright and others is that they shine a positive light on applicants and recipients as well as the numerous ETSU communities of support that surround them."

Five out of six ETSU applicants moved on to the scholarship’s semifinals at the end of January. Applications will now be forwarded to their selected host country committees, which will select the finalists who will receive awards.

ETSU’s five semifinalists include:

  • Kyla Jernigan, theater undergraduate student, Hungary, Open Study/Research Award
  • Sara Myers, Quillen College of Medicine graduate student, Peru, Fulbright-Fogarty in Public Health
  • Stokes Piercy, College of Business and Technology assistant professor, Hungary, Fulbright Scholar
  • Dr. Theresa McGarry, College of Arts and Sciences professor, Sri Lanka, Fulbright Scholar
  • Dr. Leah Adinolfi, dean of student engagement and director of assessment, Hungary, Fulbright Special Assignment

“We are working to become Tennessee’s higher education leader in guiding students through the process of applying and securing nationally and globally competitive awards,” said Dr. Carson Medley, assistant dean of the Honors College.

Medley is also the director of the Office of Prestigious Awards & Scholar Development, which offers information and application support for nationally competitive scholarships to ETSU students, staff, faculty and alumni. Community members interested in applying for prestigious awards can visit their webpage to fill out an inquiry form.