- Education
CONTACT: Laura Seals, director of Nationally Competitive Scholarships, 806-651-2587, lseals@wtamu.edu
CANYON, Texas-Rigoberto Baeza is accustomed to being a standout in the pool of applicants for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.
He applied for the flagship international program in 2019 and advanced to the final round of selection before being named an immediate alternate.
This year, though, Baeza is a Fulbright student winner among more than 10,000 other applicants in the country. He is the fifth student at WT to receive the honor.
“The process of applying to Fulbright again was about challenging myself, explaining and discovering who I am, and redefining my passion for learning and teaching. I have all my amazing teachers and supporters to thank for this perseverance and so much more. Each has changed my heart and inspired me to be like them – graceful and informative,” Baeza said.
The Fulbright programs exist to enhance connection among citizens from the U.S. and more than 160 foreign countries. Recipients are awarded competitively based on academic or professional achievement as well as leadership potential.
WT’s Terra Perez, Dr. Ryan Mattson and Dr. Brandli Stitzel made up a committee that reviewed Baeza’s application, including several essays, and conducted practice interviews that tested his intercultural understanding.
Baeza’s scholarship will support at least a semester of teaching English in Timorese Leste, an island in Southeast Asia. Though his travel plans are delayed until 2021 due to COVID-19, Baeza’s excitement is unwavering.
“I aspire to learn about the Timorese way of life and create a ‘culture day’ filled with music and cuisine inspired by my experience with WT Enactus (WT’s student business organization). I’m also looking forward to learning more about who I am and want to be. I tried once and I failed, but I didn't fail to try again,” Baeza said.
Baeza earned a bachelor’s degree in economics in 2019 and is currently a graduate student of psychology. He aspires to earn certification from the Society for Human Resource Management and possibly complete a Ph.D.
For more information about the Fulbright Student Program or others, contact Director Laura Seals in the Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships at lseals@wtamu.edu. Applications for 2021-2022 are open.