Two University of Redlands Students Receive Fulbright Awards

Three University of Redlands students have been recognized with prominent academic, merit-based awards: two of them received Fulbright awards and one of them was awarded a Boren Scholarship. Kailey DeBoi and Kyle Van de Bittner recently celebrated their graduation from the University of Redlands and have also been selected as 2014 Fulbright Scholars. In addition, the University received its first Boren Scholarship from the U.S. Department of State which was awarded to rising junior Anh Le. The Fulbright awards bring the University’s total to 17 since 2008. The Fulbright Program is a highly competitive, merit-based grant for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Kyle Van de Bittner a double major in biochemistry and molecular biology will conduct research at Canterbury University, Christ’s Church in South Island, New Zealand. He will work in both the biology and chemistry programs to assess the presence of the anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac in surface waters and in fish tissue. He intends to pursue a PhD degree in biochemical toxicology. Kailey DeBoi a double major in global business and German, with a minor in mathematics has decided to decline her Fulbright Scholar award to pursue and career with Boeing. The Boren Scholarship is the highest award given to a sophomore student by the National Security Education Program. Established in 1991, The U.S. Department of State awards the Boren to fulfill the need for experts in foreign languages and cultures of other nations. Boren award winners, who continue to perform at a high level are sought after by the U.S. Government for a variety of international opportunities. Global business major, Ahn Le received last summer a Hanson Summer Service scholarship for work with marginalized children in Vietnam and this summer she will be a Schroeder Summer Language Scholar to China. Already fluent in English and Vietnamese and successfully mastering Mandarin, Le will be in an excellent position for career opportunities with the international arms of the U.S. government.