FULBRIGHT STUDENT ASSOCIATION - UIUC
If the experience with Leadership courses was successful, the experience out of classroom complemented perfectly the concepts learned and applied during class. Such is the case of the journey through the Fulbright Student Association at UIUC organization. This chapter of students and scholars was founded in UIUC in 2012 by Fulbright Scholars. Since that period this student organization incorporated new Fulbright scholar and UIUC student members and was increasing its number of members to the extent that, nowadays, Fulbright UIUC counts with 1000+ members registered. As part of my leadership growth, I decided to become a member since Summer 2017, and participated actively within the different activities scheduled during Fall 2017 and Spring 2018. Currently, I was selected as the President of this student organization from other members of the cohort for the period Fall 2018 / Spring 2019. Assuming a leadership role within the Fulbright Student Association at UIUC has strengthened the application of self and relationship management skills and has developed a more meaningful mindset to understand the importance of building a global community integrated by people committed to construct a better future for all regardless race, culture, profession, and global location.
Some of the experiences shared with members of our Organization at the University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign such as outreach activities with Franklin STEAM Academy Middle School, International Home Discussions, BBQ afternoons, and Networking Events with Fulbright Chicago Chapter are included at Showcase 1 attached below.
Showcase 1 - Fulbrighters at UIUC Summer / Fall 17 & Spring / Fall 18
As a Fulbright student organization, our is developing connections and cultural empathy by integrating the members of our community with Fulbright Scholars. That is the case of the Outreach Activities we are currently developing with kids in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade of Middle School at Franklin STEAM Academy in Champaign IL. These outreach activities have the purpose of sharing out cultural heritages as well as out professional / research backgrounds to inspire kids to achieve further development with strengthening global connections and improving the research / professional backgrounds of their future careers. In addition, activities like this serve as motivation to create new and better solutions aimed to alleviate the issues of our respective communities all over the world, which is possible thanks to the interaction with diverse communities in the United States.
In parallel with outreach activities with members of our community, we develop connections amongst Fulbright scholars within the U.S., such is the case of the networking events developed with Fulbrighters within the Chicago area, and enrichment seminars aimed to discuss and contribute with innovative solutions to problems such as generation of technological and innovative cities projected to the future. This seminar was developed in St. Louis and counted with the participation of 133+ Fulbright scholars from different areas of the United States.
For multiple reasons, the current participation within the Fulbright Student Organization is an opportunity to discover the importance of establishing global connections and building a diverse community. As a Fulbright Scholar from Peru, I must indicate that the experience gained by connecting members from different geographies all over the world to work on similar intends and purposes enlightened my global vision and mindset, and inspired me to pursue new goals to contribute to my personal, professional, and research development.
