Six Clemson University students were selected for competitive Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards for the 2025–26 academic year.
Recipients were chosen for grants to Spain, Taiwan, Andorra and Germany to teach English, conduct research and build cross-cultural understanding.
Earning six Fulbright scholarships in one year is an exciting achievement for both Clemson and our students. It also reflects Clemson’s commitment to preparing globally minded leaders who use their education to serve communities and solve real-world challenges at home and around the world.
ROBYN CURTIS, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF MAJOR FELLOWSHIPS
Of Clemson’s six recipients, five received English teaching assistantships and one was recognized with a research grant.
Meet Clemson’s Fulbright Scholars
Claire Crowder, a Spanish and psychology double major and Honors student from North Augusta, South Carolina, was awarded an English teaching assistantship to Spain. She will teach English in Galicia, building on a previous study abroad in the region where she volunteered as a tutor and mentor for immigrant children through a Spanish non-governmental organization (NGO).
Crowder, who is fluent in Spanish and proficient in Italian, has worked with students of all ages in both academic and extracurricular settings, such as summer camps and coaching youth soccer. She plans to immerse herself in Galician culture by learning the Galician language, joining local soccer and hiking clubs, and launching an American culture club at her host school. In the future, Crowder plans to pursue a master’s degree in foreign language acquisition and later a Ph.D., aiming to advocate for early and immersive language education in American classrooms.
Justin Furgala, a biomedical engineering major and Honors student with minors in French and materials science, is from Simpsonville, South Carolina. Furgala was selected for a Fulbright English teaching assistantship to Andorra but chose to pursue other opportunities.
Furgala combined his passion for teaching, language and service through extensive tutoring in STEM and foreign languages, leadership in the French Professional Society and outreach through Clemson’s SPARK! program. He also contributed to Clemson Rural Health initiatives, gaining valuable insight into the intersections of language, medicine and equity in care. After graduation, he plans to enter an MD/Ph.D. program with the goal of becoming a physician-scientist focused on improving healthcare access in underserved communities, integrating research, education and clinical care to develop innovative solutions for global health challenges.
Adam Gatch, a biochemistry major and Honors student from Charleston, South Carolina, was awarded a research grant to Germany, which he declined after earning a Churchill scholarship earlier in the spring. His proposed project at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich would have explored how early-stage medin aggregates interact with amyloid-beta in the brain, advancing a novel line of inquiry in Alzheimer’s research.
At Clemson, Gatch conducted extensive biophysics research in the lab of Dr. Feng Ding, a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, where he explored molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative disease. Gatch also volunteered at the campus food pantry, worked as a tutor and gained clinical experience as an emergency medical technician (EMT). He plans to pursue a master’s degree in chemistry at the University of Cambridge this fall and to one day lead an interdisciplinary laboratory dedicated to neuroscience discovery while working in academic medicine.
Taj Aaron Mack-Pete from Spartanburg, South Carolina, has completed two Clemson degrees — an undergraduate degree in elementary education and a Master of Arts in Teaching through the University’s Teacher Residency Program. He’s been awarded a Fulbright English teaching assistantship to Taiwan, where he will teach in Taipei—applying culturally responsive teaching strategies, fostering community engagement through service-learning projects, and sharing American traditions with students.
Mack-Pete brings extensive classroom and mentoring experience, including a full-year teaching residency and service with Clemson’s Call Me MiSTER® program. He studied Mandarin in school and is eager to deepen his cultural and linguistic understanding while contributing meaningfully to Taiwan’s bilingual education initiative. Upon returning to the United States, Mack-Pete plans to teach in a Title I school in South Carolina and pursue an Ed.D., with the ultimate goal of serving as the state’s Superintendent of Education.
Chloe Milkowski, an elementary education major and Honors student from Huntington, New York, has been awarded a Fulbright English teaching assistantship to Galicia, Spain. Milkowski, who has completed extensive fieldwork throughout her studies at Clemson, will teach English in Galicia’s plurilingual schools, where she plans to integrate culturally responsive strategies and Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) methods into her instruction. She brings experience supporting multilingual learners and a strong academic foundation, including coursework focused on reading and writing development for students acquiring English as an additional language.
Outside the classroom, Milkowski hopes to engage with the local community by offering American-style dance classes and taking part in service projects. A former study abroad participant in Italy, she is eager to immerse herself in Galician culture and language. Upon returning to the U.S., she plans to teach in multilingual classrooms in New York and eventually become a school principal.
Catherine (Cate) Salditt, a Chinese and international business major with a minor in economics from Sea Cliff, New York, has been awarded a Fulbright English teaching assistantship to Taiwan. Passionate about language learning and cross-cultural exchange, Salditt developed a deep connection to Taiwan during a previous study abroad experience, where she strengthened her Mandarin and engaged with local communities. At Clemson, she served as president of the Chinese Language Club and gained experience teaching children through volunteer roles in educational settings.
In Taiwan, Salditt plans to teach English to elementary school students, using interactive methods like games, music, and storytelling to inspire a love for language learning. She also hopes to serve as a cultural ambassador by organizing American holiday events and joining local sports and service activities. In the future, Salditt intends to work for her grandfather’s international business, using her linguistic and cultural expertise to build cross-border partnerships and promote global understanding.
Alternate
Kailin Hawes from Ellicott City, Maryland, graduated in 2024 with a degree in animal and veterinary sciences. She earned alternate status for a Fulbright grant to the United Kingdom to pursue a Master of Science in One Health: Ecosystems, Humans and Animals at the Royal Veterinary College in London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. This fall, Hawes will begin pursuing a dual Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Master of Public Health (DVM/MPH) at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, with the ultimate goal of advancing global health as a public health veterinarian.
About the Fulbright U.S. Student Program
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and its 140 participating countries. The program supports passionate and accomplished graduating college seniors, graduate students and young professionals from all backgrounds in expanding their perspectives through academic and professional advancement and cross-cultural dialogue.
Students interested in the Fulbright U.S. Student Program or other nationally competitive programs should contact the Office of Major Fellowships at 864-656-9704 or email fellowships@clemson.edu.
Get in touch and we will connect you with the author or another expert.
Or email us at news@clemson.edu