Harrison Crawford ’22 wasnāt sure what to make of the mini fridge delivered to his temporary home in Indonesia in August. Heād come to the country to teach English to curious school children and had gotten mildly sick. Food and gifts began to arrive from people he barely knew. āThatās the culture here in Indonesia,ā Crawford says, shedding some initial light on why heās there. Crawford is among 10 recent UCF graduates who were offered prestigious Fulbright awards to teach, learn, and integrate abroad. Seven nominees accepted the Fulbright offer to become conduits of a global language (English) and impact, much like their alma mater.
In fact, UCF is a Top Producer of Fulbright U.S. Students for the 2023-24 academic year, according to the U.S. Department of Stateās Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Knight Nation is the only public institution in Florida to earn the designation. This is the second time UCF has received this honor, with 2020-21 being the first.
āI know what itās like to struggle with a new language and a new culture,ā says Noah Cabarcas, āand thatās what makes the Fulbright experience so meaningful. The struggle goes both ways, and it has a unique way of bringing people together.ā
Sophie Brockell ā23
Degree at UCF: Secondary education
Fulbright destination: Spain
What Brockell is doing there: Teaching English to middle- and high-school students
And then: Earn a masterās degree and Ph.D.
āSince early September Iāve been living and teaching in a region of Spain known as Galicia. Itās a unique place. The people take late lunches, drink a specific beer rather than wine, and eat a lot of seafood. The language is Galician, a blend of Spanish and Portuguese, which the local people are trying hard to preserve. During my Fulbright application, I proposed a cultural exchange project called āgastrodiplomacyā to tie everything together. Itās using food experiences as a language to connect cultures.
āFor example, I told my students about a rice pudding recipe. They said, āOh, thatās just like arroz con leche.ā It reminded us that we have more in common than we might assume. Now weāre compiling a cookbook that includes recipes, family stories, and the history of this region. Iām also working with local food banks because no place in the world is immune to food insecurity. I learned a lot about that growing up in the Dominican Republic where my parents worked on humanitarian projects as missionaries. Meeting the needs of people while learning from them is a core value for me. Thatās why the Fulbright has been such a great fit.ā
Noah Cabarcas ā22
Degree at UCF: Political science
Fulbright destination: Brazil
What Cabarcas will do there: Work at a university as an English teaching assistant
And then: Teach languages wherever itās needed
āI cannot remember a time in my life when I havenāt been learning or teaching a language. My mother is from Nicaragua. My father is from Panama. So, I learned Spanish and English from the time I could speak. Since then, Iāve taught myself Portuguese, studied Italian and French, and for fun I dabbled in Japanese and Russian. In Orlando, I teach English to immigrants. When I heard about the Fulbright during my last year at UCF, I knew it would be worth the rigorous application process to do what Iām passionate about in Brazil.
āAfter graduating from UCF, I decided to go to Brazil on my own for a few weeks while awaiting the Fulbright results. Iād meet people on nature trails, at food stalls, anything to integrate. The experience made me even more excited to be offered the Fulbright. My approach is to facilitate conversations in English through music, clubs, games and storytelling rather than to rely on textbooks. I once thought my major in political science would prepare me to be an interpreter for the World Health Organization, Red Cross or United Nations, but now I see my purpose more clearly: to help people on a personal level learn languages and improve their lives. The Fulbright is a natural step in that direction.ā
Eliana Jacobs ā22
Degree at UCF: Interdisciplinary studies and sociology
Fulbright destination: Taiwan
What Jacobs is doing there: Teaching English in elementary schools
And then: Go to medical school
āIām a young African American woman from Florida working in classrooms full of kids who speak Chinese and look nothing like me. Theyāre fascinated to hear about manatees and cars in America. Iām still curious about the rampant use of scooters here. Weāre building trust through language barriers by showing genuine interest in each other. This is what Iāll need to do in the future as a pediatric endocrinologist ā develop trust at the bedside with patients from all communities.
āWhen I was 14 years old, I was diagnosed with type-1 diabetes. During my research for the Fulbright application, I was surprised to find out about the high prevalence rate of diabetes in Taiwan. At the time, I was taking 21 credit hours, working on my honors thesis and working three part-time jobs. The Fulbright seemed like a longshot, but the thought of teaching children in another country while visiting medical schools and research centers motivated me. Iāve been here three months. My confidence is higher. My knowledge is deeper. And my desire to help kids is stronger than ever.ā
Lilliana Ramos ā23
Degree at UCF: International and global studies
Fulbright destination: La Rioja, Spain
What Ramos will do there: Teach English to primary school students
And then: Foreign service
āMy parents had to spread their wings when they left Cuba to start a new life in the U.S. For them, it was a necessity. For me, spreading my wings will be an honor. Coming to UCF after attending high school in Miami was the first time I ventured off on my own. Little did I know it would eventually lead to an immersive Fulbright experience in Spain, where Iāll get a taste inside and outside the classroom of what my parents had to learn: how to assimilate to a new culture.
āIn La Rioja, students want to learn the English language and American culture for the same reasons I want to learn theirs ā languages and cultures connect the world, and they open us up to a lifetime of opportunities. The work reminds me of growing up in a family where we had open discussions about important topics. My dad had worked in a consulate in Cuba before it closed, so he imparted the ideals of slowing down, listening, and being patient with people from different backgrounds. In Spain, Iāll be the one from a different background. I canāt imagine a better way to prepare for whatever comes next.ā
Harrison Crawford ā22
Degree at UCF: Interdisciplinary studies
Fulbright destination: Indonesia
What Crawford is doing there: Teaching English
And then: Build a test prep tutoring operation
āIndonesia is one of the biggest countries on Earth, and arguably the most culturally [complex]. At the moment, Iām in the city of Manado, where the motto is, āWe are all family.ā Shortly after I arrived, word got out that Iād gotten sick. A parade of people showed up with food, medicine, even kitchen appliances. If one teacher hears I skipped breakfast, within an hour Iāll have a plate of avocado, fish and bread in front of me. Iām teaching English, and theyāre teaching me what true kindness and generosity look like.
āI almost didnāt apply for the Fulbright, which would have been the biggest mistake of my life. Itās rare for Americans to collaborate with people in Global South countries as equals in a cultural context. I bring games so the kids have fun learning English and about parts of the world they might never see. Later, Iām hosting a storytelling competition, where students will have a chance to advance to the national level in Jakarta. Itās a big deal because most Indonesians donāt travel as easily as Americans do. Not long ago, I felt like I was meandering a bit. Today, Iām living a life with direction that would have once been unthinkable.ā
Casey Corrigan ā19 ā23MA
Degree at UCF: Social science education
Fulbright destination: Taipei, Taiwan
What Corrigan is doing there: English teaching assistant
And then: Teach English to middle schoolers, high schoolers and adult speakers of other languages
āI never envisioned myself teaching English in Taiwan, but here I am on this adventure. The teachers in Taipei use different styles. My current school follows a Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) approach, which means the students learn English while I teach them music and art. I might discuss specific shapes and textures in English and then a Taiwanese co-teacher will explain in Chinese how to use them when creating artwork.
āThe Fulbright program came to my attention during a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) class at UCF. Previous Fulbright recipients told me how the program helped them with visas, living arrangements, setting up a bank accounts, all the daunting details when you go abroad. Having a reputable program guiding my steps made me feel safe. Next summer Iāll come back to Orlando and pursue work as a teacher, but I know how plans can change. Whatever happens next, I will always be grateful for the people at UCF who helped make this life-changing experience a reality.ā
Meghan Absher ā22, who earned a bachelorās in integrative general studies student from UCF, also accepted a Fulbright award with the destination of Romania.
Students interested in applying for Fulbright awards or other major national awards should contact the Office of Prestigious Awards at opa@ucf.edu.
