ISSUED: 28 February 2025
MEDIA CONTACT: Hans Fogle
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — Shepherd University senior Eli Hall has been named a Fulbright semi-finalist for the Fulbright-LUT University Graduate Award in Finland.
If he wins, Hall will study at AKA LUT University’s (Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology) master’s program in technology, environment, and societal change.
Hall said the scholarship offers an incredible opportunity.
“This program would allow me to critically engage with the interaction between people, the environment, and technological developments,” Hall said. “I am principally interested in understanding how we can design policy frameworks to better address global challenges, and LUT’s emphasis on food, water, transportation, and energy systems will give me the education necessary to make real progress back in the United States.”
Hall is pursuing three majors at Shepherd: political science, global studies, and environmental studies.
Being a Fulbright Scholar would be the perfect fit with his rigorous academic pursuits at Shepherd.
“I consider being named a Fulbright Scholar to be a lifetime achievement and would be, to put it lightly, a satisfactory conclusion to my name time at Shepherd.”
Hall credits Shepherd faculty members Drs. Samuel Greene, Aart Holtslag, and Brooke Comer with supporting him throughout his educational journey.
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is an international educational exchange initiative between the United States and 140 partner countries offering opportunities in all academic disciplines to graduating college seniors, graduate students, and young professionals from all backgrounds.
Being named a semi-finalist means an applicant has advanced to review committees in their proposed host countries and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.
The Fulbright Program, the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange initiative, aims to foster mutual understanding between the United States and other nations.
Recipients are chosen based on academic and professional merit and leadership potential.
Finalists will be announced later this spring.
The Paul and Lisa Welch Distinguished Awards Program gives Shepherd students opportunities to apply for prestigious scholarships.
The program was established to provide targeted assistance to Shepherd students and faculty preparing for competitive prestigious scholarships, fellowships, and award programs such as Gilman, Fulbright, Rhodes, and MacArthur.
For more information about these scholarship opportunities, CLICK HERE.
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