St. Edward's University alumna Rachel Howell, '03, has received a prestigious Fulbright Teaching Assistantship to Germany. Howell, the first student from St. Edward's to win a Fulbright, began a yearlong teaching assignment in August.

A Social Studies major, Howell was selected to participate in the St. Edward's undergraduate Honors Program in which students take at least seven honors seminars and complete an honors senior thesis project while maintaining a minimum 3.50 GPA, and she was a member of the Alpha Chi Honor Society. Last year, Howell spent the summer semester studying at Die Deutsche Sommerschule von New Mexico — one of the most prestigious immersion programs of its kind in the country.

According to Howell, "Studying a foreign language helps a person to become more well-rounded — it stimulates both hemispheres of my brain: logical and creative. Also, when one studies a foreign language, he or she also learns a different system of thought, a foreign history, and an alien culture. In general, it allows people to step outside of their experiences and become a more knowledgeable and tolerant person."

In addition to excelling in the classroom, Howell also stood out for her athletic abilities. She started for the women's Hilltopper soccer team for four years, earning Defensive MVP in 2001 and twice making the All-Conference Team.

Five students from St. Edward's applied for the Fulbright program grants, and three students were recommended by the Fulbright committee to be reviewed by the individual countries where they applied to study. In addition to Howell's selection, Chris Herrington, '02, was named an alternate for the fellowship to Germany.

The Fulbright Scholar Program sends 800 U.S. faculty and professionals abroad to 140 countries each year to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries, through the exchange of people, knowledge and skills. Recipients lecture and conduct research in a wide variety of academic and professional fields. The Fulbright program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and administered by the Council for International Exchange of Scholars.