Mathematics major Erik Wallace '07 of Oneonta, NY and German and French major Brianna Draper '07 of Adams, NY have been selected by the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board to receive highly competitive Fulbright awards for 2007-08. Fulbright recipients are selected based on academic and professional achievements as well as demonstrated leadership potential.
Wallace and Draper are the 18th and 19th Fulbright Scholars to have attended Hartwick College since 1980.
Wallace will spend next year at a university in Germany taking classes and conducting research in advanced mathematics. He plans to translate the mathematical works of Adolf Hurwitz, one of the most important mathematicians of the 19th century.
Wallace chose the particular project and location with care. "The opportunity to study mathematics at a university where some of the world's greatest mathematicians did their work is very exciting," he said. "I strongly believe in the importance of understanding math through its history. This approach allows one to make connections and understand how concepts originally developed. Without that context, math can often seem whimsical.
He continued, "Translating Hurwitz' works while I’m actually in Germany will allow me to consult with professors who are familiar with German mathematical conventions. I have been able to rely on the algebraic expertise of Professors of Mathematics Ron Brzenk and Gary Stevens and on Professor of German Wendell Frye's expertise in German translation, but because mathematical conventions differ from one nationality to another, they pose a particular challenge when translating such work."
Draper, who is completing certification in education through Hartwick's Education program, will travel to Germany to complete an English Teaching Assistantship in a German high school and will take classes at a German university.
In many ways, Draper has been preparing for this experience since high school when she participated in the German American Partnership Program and NACEL, which involved travel to France, but she says the most important elements have been "the study abroad programs to Ireland, Anguilla, and Quebec that I've participated in while at Hartwick and, of course, the guidance of Professor Wendell Frye. In addition, I am currently student teaching and just finished my German placement at Oneonta Middle and High School with Richard Breuninger '68. This experience made me much more comfortable with teaching and German culture."
Draper has no doubts about the value of her upcoming opportunity as it represents an extension of the hard work she has done while at Hartwick. "By going to Germany and teaching English, I will be able to practice and improve the teaching skills that I have been working on for the last four years and then I'll be able to bring this experience back to the United States where I plan to teach German and French. I want to share my love of language with other students who are learning that love for the first time. This is a dream come true for me."
Hartwick has had great success in producing Fulbright Scholars. Last year Ryan Smith '06 and Ariel Ahearn '05 were awarded Fulbrights to Germany and Mongolia, respectively. Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost John Anderson commented, "Erik and Brianna's accomplishments, along with the 17 Hartwick Fulbright recipients before them, underscore the value of what Hartwick does best—providing students with a nurturing and challenging academic environment with close student-faculty interaction and engaged learning opportunities, especially in the areas of undergraduate research and study abroad."
The Fulbright Program is the U.S. Government's premier scholarship program. It enables U.S. students, artists and other professionals to benefit from unique resources in every corner of the world and to gain international competence in an increasingly interdependent world.
As Fulbright scholars, Wallace and Draper join the ranks of some 225,000 distinguished scholars and professionals worldwide who are leaders in the educational, political, economic, social and cultural ranks of their countries. The U.S. Congress created the Fulbright Program in 1946, immediately after World War II, to foster mutual understanding among nations through educational and cultural exchanges.
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Hartwick College is a private liberal arts and sciences college of 1,480 students, located in Oneonta, NY in the northern foothills of the Catskill Mountains. Hartwick's expansive curriculum emphasizes connecting the classroom to the world. Through personalized teaching, collaborative research, a unique January Term, a wide range of internships, and limitless study-abroad opportunities, Hartwick ensures that students are prepared for the world ahead. Strong financial aid and scholarship programs keep a Hartwick education affordable.
