Two Spanish Students Win Prestigious Fulbright Scholarships

Although their paths to the University of Denver (DU) looked very different, Haley Graham and Frankie Stroud found common ground in language learning, community engagement, and a liberal arts education that pushed them beyond traditional academic boundaries, and toward prestigious Fulbright scholarships they never saw coming. 

For Stroud, a fourth-year student in the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (CAHSS) majoring in Spanish, international studies, and political science, being awarded a Fulbright represents a continuation of a journey that began close to home. A Colorado native, Stroud said she arrived at DU having spent little time outside the state and with no Spanish-language experience. 

“I was really drawn to how language was deeply intertwined with the social and global justice issues I care about most,” Stroud said. 

That interest grew into a transformative undergraduate experience that included studying abroad in Spain and Chile, volunteering with organizations that support immigrants and address food insecurity, and interning with Colorado Legal Services to help develop bilingual outreach materials. 

Through the Fulbright program, Stroud will serve as an English Teaching Assistant (ETA) after graduation at a university in Colombia, where she hopes to continue exploring issues of women’s rights and transitional justice. 

Graham’s path to DU unfolded differently. Raised in Casper, Wyoming, she was homeschooled before starting community college at 15. As a first-generation student, she said attending college once felt financially and personally uncertain. 

“When I applied to DU, I didn’t think I would get in with the financial aid I needed to attend,” Graham said. 

Now graduating a year early with a degree in international studies and minors in Spanish and leadership, Graham faces a decision between two life-changing opportunities: a Fulbright ETA placement in Madrid, Spain or a full-ride scholarship to Sturm College of Law. 

Although their backgrounds differ, both students describe language learning as central to their academic and personal growth. Each student credited the Department of Spanish Language, Literary & Cultural Studies at DU with helping them connect classroom learning to real-world experiences and communities. 

For Stroud, Spanish became a means to engage more deeply in social justice work. For Graham, language learning fostered confidence, cultural understanding, and a sense of belonging. 

“Opportunities to utilize my Spanish beyond the classroom are ultimately the reason I felt empowered to apply to Fulbright Spain ETA,” Graham said. 

These students' stories also reflect the role faculty mentorship and interdisciplinary learning can play in shaping academic futures. Both students highlighted the support they received from faculty and staff across the University, particularly from the Office of Scholar Development and Fellowship Advising, where mentors guided them through the demanding Fulbright application process. 

Liberal Arts Unlocked

In many ways, Graham and Stroud's experiences embody the strengths of a liberal arts education: intellectual curiosity, adaptability, cultural fluency, and a commitment to service. Whether through studying language, examining political systems, engaging with legal questions, or working directly with local communities, both students said their education at DU taught them to connect ideas across disciplines and apply them beyond the classroom. 

That openness to unexpected opportunities became one of the defining lessons from their college experiences. 

“Four years ago, I never would have guessed that this is what I would end up doing after graduation,” Stroud said. “But I am so glad that I followed my curiosities and passions and allowed them to open new doors.” 

Graham expressed a similar sentiment, saying the Fulbright application process taught her to trust herself and to embrace setbacks as opportunities for growth. 

“For every fellowship or scholarship that I have won, I have also lost one,” Graham said. “I have found value in the loss, though. It has helped me consider what I want to do with my future, and what my values are.”