UW-Madison announced earlier this month that 16 Badgers have received Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards for the 2026-2027 academic year, with 15 accepting the grant. Celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2026, the U.S. Department of State’s Fulbright Program offers participants from 160 countries and locations the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. Each year close to 2,000 Fulbright U.S. students—recent college graduates, graduate students, and early career professionals—pursue graduate study, conduct research, or teach English in schools abroad. Among the 16 Badgers receiving the scholarship are six European Studies student affiliates, including two European Studies undergraduates.
Learn more about the European Studies Fulbright award recipients:
Maya Schimelfenyg
Study, Iceland
Degrees/certificates: BA in international studies and Spanish, certificates in European Studies and organic agriculture
“During my time abroad, I will be studying Icelandic at the University of Iceland in Reykjavík as part of the Icelandic as a Second Language program. I am most excited to extend my learning space outside of the classroom and explore new ways to integrate into the local community.”
Michaela Stromberg
Research, Brazil
Degrees/certificates: BA in international studies and Portuguese, certificates in European Studies and Russian, East European & Central Asian Studies, Russian Flagship program graduate
European Studies FLAS Fellow, Summer 2021 & Academic Year 2022-2023
“[In Brazil], I will conduct fieldwork research and work on my thesis, concluding my M.A. in Global Studies from Humboldt University of Berlin. My project will explore the historical construction and contemporary reproduction of Paulista supremacy amidst current agribusiness expansion in Brazil. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to conduct in-person fieldwork research that will utilize and build on the Portuguese language skills that I acquired at UW.”
European Studies congratulates our students, and all UW-Madison awardees, on their well-deserved honors. To read more about the complete list of Fulbright awardees, click here: More information.