MCC-Blue River alumnus Esther Francis receives Fulbright grant

Esther Francis, MCC-Blue River's newest Fulbright scholarship recipient

Each of the last two years, an MCC-Blue River alumnus has been awarded a prestigious Fulbright scholarship to study abroad. This year the Fulbright award went to Esther Francis, an MCC-Blue River graduate who spent a year living in Guanajuato, Mexico during her undergraduate studies. After her immersive, linguistic experience in Mexican culture, she knew that she had to find a way to go back.

The Fulbright Binational Business Grant allows Esther to spend another year living and studying Mexico. With the scholarship, she will attend graduate level courses at Mexico Autonomous Institute of Technology while gaining experience as an intern for a Mexico City based company.

The Fulbright scholarship is awarded to a very select group of applicants based on their academic performance, professional achievement, and the leadership qualities they demonstrate. The Fulbright program was designed by the United States congress and passed into law by President Harry S. Truman to increase

international communication and understanding in an effort to promote world peace.

Esther says that she is thrilled to be recognized for her hard work; she has been taking college courses for over thirteen years now. She counts herself truly honored for the encouragement and support she has received throughout her education.

The Examiner’s Kelly Evanson interviewed Esther last week. “When I heard about the bilingual business program,” Esther told her, “I knew it was something I wanted to do... I was so super excited when I found out I received one of these grants. This is a rare opportunity to learn more on a professional level and immerse myself in the Hispanic culture” (http://bit.ly/iPEmZI).

Robyn McGee, MCC-Blue River humanities division chair, said of Esther, “I think very highly of her. As a student, Esther was fantastic. She would often lead discussions and was always willing to listen to what others had to contribute.” Aside from her outstanding qualities as a student, Robyn went on to speak about Esther as a person. “She is genuine.  She has concern for others and shows real interest in how other people are doing. She is actually very much missed here at Blue River.”