Recent graduate earns Fulbright Teaching Scholarship
Alumni & Friends, Summer/Fall 2005

Laurel Radomska, a May 2005 graduate with a double major in English and German education, will have the unique opportunity to hone her teaching skills abroad thanks to a Fulbright Teaching Scholarship that will take her to eastern Germany in September.

“Laurel is the ideal candidate for the Fulbright program,” said Gerd Bayer, assistant professor of German at UWWhitewater. “Her great knowledge of German language and culture will make it very easy for her to ‘survive’ abroad. Laurel has always shown a great interest in things German, so this year should provide her with a wonderful opportunity to live and learn in Germany.”

As a Fulbright Teaching Scholar, Radomska will work as a language teaching assistant through the German institute, Pädagogische Austauschdienst (Pedagogical Exchange Services). Living in Bundesstaat Sachsen (federal state of Saxony), Radomska will team-teach conversational English to German high school students.

“The last time I traveled to Germany was as a student,” Radomska said. “Now I’m looking forward to returning as an educator. I want to take a part of America with me and share it with the German students.”

According to Bayer, being a Fulbright Teaching Scholar will open up many doors for Radomska.

“For anyone who wants to teach a foreign language, it is critical to study in the country that the language is spoken,” Bayer said. “As a Fulbright Scholar, Laurel will be doing just that. She will be living in Germany, all the while immersing herself in the language, life and culture.”

Radomska’s recent scholarship not only demonstrates her exceptional academic talent, but also speaks volumes of UW-Whitewater’s German program.

“Even though our program is relatively small, we have quite a few majors who have been successful, including the recent McGraw Award Winner for Student Excellence, Rosemarie Schuette,” Bayer said. “Students like Laurel and Rosemarie represent the university and the program well and show just how ‘academic’ the German program is.” – Melissa DiMotto