Two Gordon College Students Receive Fulbright Scholarships to Study and Teach Abroad

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2007

MEDIA CONTACT:
Ashley Hopkins
Office of College Communications
978.867.4569

WENHAM, MA-Gordon College announced today that two graduating seniors have been named Fulbright scholars; Taryn Knerr, a double major in German and Mathematics, and Daniel Santimore, a double major in Ancient Languages and Biblical Studies with a minor in Ancient Near Eastern Studies.

During her Fulbright year, Knerr will be placed by the Fulbright Commission in Germany to teach English as a foreign language to school children ranging between 10-18 years of age in a school located in Bad Muenstereifel, Germany. Santimore has received a Fulbright Grant to study and research in Israel where he will attend the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

"One way colleges and universities measure success is the number of undergraduate fellowships and awards students receive," Kina Mallard, academic dean of Gordon College."The Fulbright Award is the crème de la crème for graduating seniors. Having this honor bestowed on two Gordon students is a testimony to our excellent faculty who set and maintain high standards, as well as a testimony to the intellect and dedication of the students."

Knerr is currently studying at Heidelberg University through the American Junior Year Abroad Program. During her Fulbright year, she will be placed by the Fulbright Commission in Germany to teach English as a foreign language to school children 10-18 years of age in a school located in Bad Muenstereifel, Germany. She also plans to audit university courses while fulfilling her teaching assistantship. Upon her return, Knerr hopes to apply to graduate school where she will pursue a Master's degree in German Literature. 

Among her other achievements, Knerr is also the recipient of a Calvin College Academic Achievement Award, and has been on the Dean's List consistently for five years at Gordon.

As an undergraduate, Santimore has been awarded several honors. A recipient of the Lewis Scholarship in Biblical Studies and a Pike Honors Student, he has consecutively received Presidential Honors. During his Fulbright year, his research will focus on the religion of ancient Philistine culture as revealed in textual sources and archeological records. In addition, he will study Modern Hebrew to facilitate the reading of archeological journals and the engagement of Israeli culture.

Previously Santimore attended undergraduate tutorials on the Ancient Near East and Akkadian at Oxford University and also received a scholarship from Gordon College to attend a three-week course on Historical Geography at the Jerusalem University College. He is currently contributing to a book project on Philistine religion with Dr. Elaine Phillips, Prof. of Biblical Studies at Gordon.

Both Knerr and Santimore worked with Pamela Thuswaldner, adjunct German Instructor and Fulbright Scholar Campus Representative at Gordon College, to complete their Fulbright applications."It has been a pleasure advising Gordon students through the Fulbright process as they inquire about eligibility, refine and strengthen their proposals, and prepare for campus interviews," says Thuswaldner. "The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers a wide variety of country specific grant opportunities each year and we hope to encourage more students to apply for a grant or teaching assistantship."

The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and is the largest U.S. international exchange program offering opportunities for students, scholars, and professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and teaching in elementary and secondary schools worldwide. The 2008-09 Fulbright application process opens Tuesday, May 1, 2007. Funding for 1000 American students in 140 countries is available.

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Gordon College is a Christian college of the liberal arts and sciences on Boston's North Shore. The college offers majors in 36 fields and has graduate programs in education and music education. Leading the way in Christian college merit, Gordon is nationally ranked for its excellence in academics and its role in character building. These achievements recognize Gordon as one of the nation's top Christian colleges.

 

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