For the seventh consecutive year, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has been named a Fulbright Top Producing Institution for student grants. The designation was made in an announcement by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs on Feb. 25.
The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international academic exchange program. Each year, institutions with the highest number of students selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student and Scholar Programs are recognized. For the 2024-25 academic year, 12 UT students and recent graduates were awarded Fulbright scholarships.
“Being named a Fulbright top producing institution reflects UT’s commitment to global engagement and academic excellence,” said Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor John Zomchick. “We are incredibly proud of our Volunteers for embracing opportunities that expand knowledge, foster understanding and make a meaningful impact worldwide.”
In keeping with its commitment to global excellence, UT has supported more than 165 student Fulbright recipients from 1959 to the present, empowering future leaders and fostering worldwide innovation.
Fulbrighters exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections and work to address complex global challenges. The program is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.
“Fulbright offers students and scholars the opportunity to build a better and more connected world, one grant at a time,” said Director of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Meredith Malburne-Wade. “It is an honor and a privilege to work with undergraduates, graduate students and alumni from the University of Tennessee as they synthesize their Volunteer experiences and apply for the Fulbright. We are so proud of all our applicants, and we could not be more excited for our recipients.”
Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists and professionals of all backgrounds with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research abroad.
At UT, Undergraduate Research and Fellowships helps guide students through the application process through advising, application essay writing workshops and interview preparation. The university submitted 45 candidates for the 2025-26 competition, and 19 of them have been named national semifinalists by Fulbright screening committees. Final award selections will be made in late spring.
About the Fulbright Program
Fulbright recipients go on to make a positive impact in their communities, their fields and the world. They include 44 heads of state or government, 62 Nobel laureates, 90 Pulitzer Prize recipients, 82 MacArthur Fellows, and countless leaders and changemakers who have built mutual understanding between the people of the United State and the people of other countries.
Learn more about the program on the Fulbright website.
Visit UT’s Fulbright web page to learn more about the campus application process.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Cindi King (865-974-0937, cking126@utk.edu)