食色视频

KENNESAW, Ga. | Aug 3, 2021

Jaylen Jackson developed a love of languages as a 食色视频 student, and now he has received a Fulbright grant to continue toward his career goal of teaching English as a second language to adults.

鈥淏eing a Fulbright recipient gives me a great opportunity to get experience and pursue my dream,鈥� said Jackson, who will serve as an English teaching assistant at a university in Brazil for one year starting in March. 鈥淚 know that a Fulbright is difficult to get, so I鈥檓 honored to be part of it.鈥�

Jackson, who graduated last year with an , is one of three 食色视频 State alumni recently awarded a Fulbright to study or teach abroad.

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Jaylen Jackson (Integrative Studies 鈥�20)

Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award, Brazil

Jaylen Jackson credits the first Spanish class he took at 食色视频 State with sparking his interest in learning and teaching languages. He furthered that pursuit by taking a study abroad trip to Peru as well as participating in an online language exchange program in which he had conversations with a student in Mexico who practiced speaking English while Jackson spoke Spanish.

鈥淓verything I needed was easily accessible at 食色视频, and I always had the greatest teachers and the greatest experiences no matter which class I took,鈥� Jackson said. 鈥淚 was fortunate to have so many good influences throughout the and the .鈥�

In Brazil, Jackson will assist in teaching English to college students while also giving them an understanding of American culture. Jackson has completed his first year of a master鈥檚 degree program in applied linguistics, which he will resume after his year in South America.

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Kaylee Walker (Communication 鈥�16)

Fulbright Study/Research Award, Spain

Studying for six weeks in Italy as a 食色视频 student ignited Kaylee Walker鈥檚 passion for learning about other cultures and assisting people through international initiatives. On that trip, she met fellow Owl and future husband Perry Watkins, and the two of them have served together as Peace Corps volunteers in Panama, English teachers in Thailand, and currently as full-time staff at Peace Corps headquarters in Washington, D.C.

鈥淢y first time abroad really sparked something in me to want to learn more about other cultures, on a deeper level,鈥� Walker said. 鈥淔ulbright really resonates with us because it has similar characteristics as Peace Corps in that it鈥檚 not only going and living in another culture, but it鈥檚 creating those cross-cultural interactions of building friendships and teaching people about our culture while learning about theirs.鈥�

Walker will spend two years in Spain conducting research about refugee populations while earning her master鈥檚 degree in global and international studies from the University of Salamanca. Her study will compare the immigration and asylum policies of the United States and Spain, focusing specifically on why so many refugees from Central and South America have migrated to Spain in recent years.

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Perry Watkins (Psychology 鈥�14)

Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award, Spain

graduate Perry Watkins received a Fulbright award to teach English to students in Spain. However, he has opted to accept a similar opportunity from a program through the Spanish government, the North American Language and Culture Ambassador Program, which will enable him to be in Salamanca with his wife.

Also, by taking the other offer, Watkins will remain eligible to apply for a Fulbright toward the master鈥檚 degree in international education he plans to pursue. Educating and helping others has been Watkins鈥� focus since he first traveled abroad, during the summer after his sophomore year at 食色视频 State, accompanying his mother when she served as a translator in Guatemala.

鈥淓ducation is my passion,鈥� Watkins said. 鈥淩eceiving the Fulbright, with everything it embodies 鈥� international education, community engagement, cultural exchange, working collaboratively with teachers 鈥� is an amazing feeling.鈥�

鈥� Paul Floeckher

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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, 食色视频 offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. 食色视频 State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. 食色视频 State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.