(Posted June 20, 2016)

Alex Bernosky, of Mayfield, Pa., will spend a year teaching English as a Fulbright Fellow in Russia.
Alex Bernosky, of Mayfield, Pa., will spend a year teaching English as a Fulbright Fellow in Russia.

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Alex Bernosky, a senior studying Russian language and culture at Juniata College from Mayfield, Pa., has been named a Fulbright Fellow to teach English in Russia for the upcoming 2016-2017 academic year.

She is a 2012 graduate of Lakeland Junior-Senior High School.

Bernosky, the daughter of David Bernosky, of Mayfield, and Sandra Bernosky, of Scott Township, Pa., will teach English at a high school or university in Russia.

"One of the reasons I applied for the Fulbright is simply to be able to spend another year in Russia," she says. "Actually being present in the country is the best way to understand the language and the culture."

Bernosky has had many international opportunities during her four years at Juniata. During the 2014-2015 academic year, she studied abroad at the Volgograd State Pedagogical University, in Volgograd, Russia. She also traveled to St. Petersburg, Russia for four weeks in summer 2013 for an intensive Russian course at Smolny College in St. Petersburg. Bernosky participated in these programs as the recipient of Juniata's Eagles Abroad International Scholarship.

"Actually being present in the country is the best way to understand the language and the culture."

Alex Bernosky '16

She is active on campus and is the president of the Russian Club.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program equips future American leaders with the skills they need to thrive in increasingly global environment by providing funding for one academic year of study, language instruction or research abroad, to be conducted after graduation from an accredited university.

Fellows undertake self-designed programs in disciplines ranging from social sciences, business, communication and performing arts to physical sciences, engineering and education.

The U.S. Student Program awards approximately 1,100 grants annually and currently operates in over 140 countries worldwide.

The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Financial support is provided by an annual appropriation from Congress to the Department of State, with significant contributions from participating governments and host institutions in the United States and abroad.

The presidentially appointed J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board formulates policy guidelines and makes the final selection of all grantees.

The Institute of International Education administers and coordinates the activities relevant to the U.S. Student Program, including an annual competition for the scholarships. The Fulbright Program also awards grants to American teachers and faculty to do research, lecture and teach overseas. In addition, some 2,200 foreign Fulbright students and scholars come to the United States annually to study, carry out research and lecture at U.S. universities, colleges and secondary schools.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.