As another academic year concludes, two recent graduates are looking to begin a new scholarly journey, thanks to the prestigious Fulbright Program, which recently recognized them with awards.

Allison Helmuth ’07 from Orrville, Ohio, and Andrew Scarponi ’07 from Akron, Ohio, will head overseas after graduation, quickly exchanging cap and gown for intense study and research as part of the f lagship international education program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.

As a Fulbright Scholar, Helmuth, an English major, will investigate the sustainability of urban poultry farming in Kingston, Jamaica. She plans to focus specifically on the life experiences of men and women currently conducting farming in the country’s capital city.

Scarponi, an East Asian Studies major, will travel to Chengdu, China, to study the functioning of open-air antiques markets. He hopes that by studying these bazaars, he will gain insight into the economic behavior of Chinese culture, which will help him understand the business practices of Chinese firms.

Since 1996, nine Wittenberg students have received prestigious Fulbright scholarships, joining the long list of prominent Fulbright alumni, including Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, author Jonathan Franzen, opera singer Renee Fleming and other leading Americans in all fields.