Three UW-Eau Claire graduates recently received Fulbright awards to work and conduct research in foreign countries, placing Eau Claire eighth among all master’s level universities producing Fulbright scholars this year.

Jenna Cushing-Leubner, Amanda Hill and Justin Van Ness received Fulbright awards.

All three students graduated last year.

According to a university press release, Eau Claire has produced eight Fulbright scholars since 2000, more than any school in the UW System except UW-Madison. According to the release, no other college or university in Wisconsin is included on the list of top master’s level institutions this year.

“(The Fulbright program) is the most active and robust international exchange program in the history of humanity,” said Karl Markgraf, director of international education.

Study abroad coordinator Cheryl Lochner-Wright said the program is designed to send American students, teachers and faculty to study in foreign countries, as well as bring foreign students into America.

Leubner received two awards: a Fulbright award to study how Turkish immigrants in Austria are integrating into Austrian society and a supplementary language initiative training grant to study the Turkish language in Turkey, Wright said.

Hill received a grant to work as a teaching assistant in Belgium. Wright said Hill will study the effects of introducing beginning-level English language students to different English dialects, as well as introducing beginning-level French language students to different French dialects.

Van Ness received an award to serve as a teaching assistant in Spain where he will teach English to middle school and high school students, Wright said, adding Van Ness will also research the developments in international human rights laws in Spain.

The award winners were unavailable for comment due to their locations abroad.

About 1,200 awards are given to American students, teachers and faculty each year, Wright said.

Markgraf credited the students as well as the faculty and staff members for the number of Fulbright scholars that come through Eau Claire.

“UW-Eau Claire has some outstanding students,” he said, adding the dedication of the on-campus Fulbright Committee to helping students apply for Fulbright awards is a major component of the school’s success.

The Fulbright Committee consists of Markgraf and Wright, as well as associate professor of foreign languages Jeff Vahlbusch, associate professor of anthropology Helaine Minkus and economics professor Maria DaCosta.

“Members of the Fulbright Committee spend a lot of time working with the students refining their proposals to make (the students) more competitive,” Markgraf said. “We’re all committed to student success. We’re delighted to see that students are doing so well.”