The University of Utah’s Honors College is proud to celebrate 12 University of Utah students who have been named semi-finalists for the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program! These exceptional students represent diverse academic backgrounds and global ambitions, reflecting the University’s commitment to excellence, research, and international engagement.
We are especially proud to recognize that 30% of the U’s semi-finalists are affiliated with the Honors College—a testament to the drive, leadership, and global perspective fostered within our community.
The Fulbright Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, facilitates academic exchanges in more than 140 countries, supporting recipients as they pursue graduate study, conduct research, or teach English abroad. Making it to the semi-finalist stage is a significant achievement, as it means these students’ applications have been forwarded for final review by the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in their host countries.
Meet the Honors College Semi-Finalists
Ashton Pelley (Honors B.A. in Political Science, College of Social and Behavioral Science; Honors B.A. in International Studies and B.S. in Spanish, College of Humanities, Spring 2025)
Pelley aims to merge her global affairs knowledge, Spanish fluency, and experience in ESL language acquisition and advocacy to teach English in Spain.
Emily Sageser (Honors B.S. in Physics, College of Science, Spring 2023)
Sageser plans to pursue a master’s degree in Exact Sciences: Astronomy and Space Physics at the University of Turku in Finland. Her research will focus on astrophysics, aerospace industry applications, and Finland’s approach to Dark Sky restoration.
Jacy Watson (Honors B.A. in Linguistics, College of Humanities, Spring 2024)
Watson plans to leverage her advanced Korean language skills, TESOL certification, and passion for ESL pedagogy to teach English in South Korea.
Delaney Miller (Honors B.S. in Chemistry, College of Science, Spring 2025)
Miller seeks to apply her chemistry expertise, Spanish proficiency, and passion for sustainability to teach English in Spain, fostering cross-cultural community engagement.
A University-Wide Achievement
This year, 12 University of Utah students were named semi-finalists, a record for the most in university history. Across eight colleges, these students will represent the U in destinations such as Finland, Germany, Kazakhstan, Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, India, Spain, and Tajikistan.
Final Fulbright award announcements will be announced in the coming months. Fulbright alumni have gone on to become Nobel Prize winners, Pulitzer Prize recipients, and global leaders, demonstrating the program’s transformative impact.
We congratulate Emily, Delaney, Ashton, and Jacy on this incredible accomplishment and look forward to their continued success!
For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit us.fulbrightonline.org.
Interested in applying?
The 2025–2026 Fulbright application opens March 31. Join the Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships for a virtual information session on March 19 at 12 PM. To participate, students may register here. To find out more about the Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships, contact Alison Shimko, the University of Utah’s Fulbright Program Advisor and the Associate Director of ONCS, at alison.shimko@utah.edu or consult nationallycompetitivescholarships.utah.edu.