Twenty Students, Recent Alums Named 2025 Fulbright Semifinalists
Twenty Virginia Commonwealth University students and recent alumni have been named semifinalists for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program for the 2025-2026 academic year.
These candidates will advance to the final round of evaluation and will be notified of their selection status on a rolling basis from March through May.
The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The program operates in over 160 countries worldwide. More than 2,000 grants are given to graduating seniors, recent alumni and graduate students to conduct research, carry out creative projects, pursue a year of postgraduate study or teach English abroad.
The Fulbright semifinalists are listed below with their name, host country and grant type:
Current Students:
- Vishnupriya Alavala, a member of the Honors College who will graduate in May with a bachelor’s in biology from the College of Humanities and Sciences, applied to Taiwan for an English Teaching Assistant award.
- Kaylynn Breland, who will graduate in May with a bachelor’s in environmental studies from VCU Life Sciences, applied to Cote d’Ivoire for an English Teaching Assistant award.
- Swara Chokshi, a member of the Honors College who will graduate in May with a bachelor’s in bioinformatics from VCU Life Sciences, applied to Bulgaria for a Study/Research award in Public Health.
- Reese Cilley, a member of the Honors College who will graduate in May with a bachelor’s in communication arts from the School of the Arts, applied to Estonia for an English Teaching Assistant award.
- Susan Culbreth, who will graduate in May with a bachelor’s in strategic advertising from the Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture, applied to Spain for an English Teaching Assistant award.
- Olivia Hoffmaster, who will graduate in May with a bachelor’s in craft and material studies from the School of the Arts, applied to Italy for an English Teaching Assistant award.
- Paloma Rodriguez-Saucedo, who will graduate in May with a bachelor’s in social work from the School of Social Work, applied to Spain for an English Teaching Assistant award.
- Reem Shawkat, who will graduate in May 2026 with a bachelor’s in social work from the School of Social Work, applied to Egypt for a Study/Research award in Social Work.
- Hisham Vohra, who will graduate in May 2027 with an M.D. from the School of Medicine, applied to Argentina for a Study/Research award in Medical Sciences.
- William Wilson, who will graduate in May with a bachelor’s in creative advertising from the Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture, applied to Germany for an English Teaching Assistant award.
Alumni:
- Luis Campos, who graduated in December 2023 with a bachelor’s in political science from the College of Humanities and Sciences, applied to Argentina for an English Teaching Assistant award.
- Gina Chan, an alumna of the Honors College who graduated in May 2023 with a bachelor’s in psychology from the College of Humanities and Sciences, applied to the United Kingdom for a Study/Research award in Psychology.
- Linda Hamrick, who graduated in May 2023 with a bachelor’s in English from the College of Humanities and Sciences, applied to Finland for a Research/Study award in Creative Writing.
- Maia Hollien, who graduated in May 2024 with a bachelor’s in kinetic imaging from the School of the Arts, applied to Ghana for a Study/Research award in Crafts.
- Katherine Miller, who graduated in December 2024 with a bachelor’s in urban and regional planning from the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, applied to Denmark for a Research/Study award in Urban Planning.
- Ireolu Orenuga, an alumna of the Honors College who graduated in May 2023 with a bachelor’s in chemical and life science engineering from the College of Engineering, applied to Nigeria for a Study/Research award in Pharmacology.
- David Pearson, who graduated in December 2024 with a bachelor’s in Political Science from the College of Humanities and Sciences, applied to Turkey for a Study/Research award in Law.
- Helengrace Quilon, an alumna of the Honors College who graduated in May 2022 with a bachelor’s in Biology from the College of Humanities and Sciences, applied to the Netherlands for a Research/Study award in Creative Writing.
- Macon Reed, who graduated in May 2007 with a bachelor’s in sculpture and extended media from the School of the Arts, applied to Australia for a Study/Research award in Installation Art.
- Gwendolyn Verity, an alumna of the Honors College who graduated in May 2024 with a bachelor’s in chemical engineering from the College of Engineering, applied to Cyprus for an English Teaching Assistant award.
VCU’s National Scholarship Office (NSO) assists students and recent alumni with the application process for the Fulbright Program and other esteemed awards. To learn more about external funding opportunities, schedule an appointment with a member of the NSO staff.