High Point University Breaks Record With 10 Fulbright Semifinalists

There always seems to be a lot of good news coming out of High Point University (HPU), where the students are known for being treated very well by the school – and also known for the way they give back to the surrounding community.

This week, the university announced that nine HPU students and one alumnus have been named as semifinalists for the 2024-25 Fulbright US Student Program – which is the US government’s highly exclusive flagship international educational exchange program.

With 10 students named as Fulbright semifinalists, that sets a record at the school. And HPU is crowing about it.

James Cotton, HPU’s director of national fellowships and awards, spoke about the students.

“Our 10 semifinalists hail from academic programs across the university,” Cotton said. “In our centennial year, 2024, they have set a new record in the history of HPU since it first started as High Point College in 1924.”

According to information sent out by the school this week, the students worked closely with High Point University’s Office of National Fellowships and Awards, and each of the semifinalists went through a rigorous application process. That process included writing two essays and a Fulbright Campus Committee interview.

The students have applied for fully funded graduate study and English teaching awards in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Ecuador, Italy, Mexico, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.

Ethan Muckerheide, Psychology major, religion minor, said “Dr. Cotton and the Fellowship Office transformed a daunting application into a step-by-step process that ensured my application was the best it could possibly be.”

Muckerheide, who’s from Dayton, Ohio, added, “Being a semifinalist has given me even more gratitude toward my mentors and all those who’ve believed in me at HPU.”

The Fulbright US Student Program, which was established in 1964, was created by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs (ECA). The exchange program offers students fully funded opportunities to study abroad in one of more than 140 countries around the world.