NEW PALESTINE — Sarah Pearson became not only part of the 179th graduating class of 2018 from DePauw University this spring, she’s also earned another honor, one that will take her out of the country.
Pearson, of New Palestine, recently accepted a Fulbright Scholar position to teach English in Brazil for the coming year, becoming the university’s seventh Fulbright recipient this year, according to a news release.
The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 under legislation introduced by then-Sen. J. William Fulbright, according to the Fulbright Scholar Program website.
The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
The program awards about 8,000 grants annually. Approximately 1,600 U.S. students, 4,000 foreign students, 1,200 U.S. scholars, and 900 visiting scholars receive awards, in addition to several hundred teachers and professionals.
About 370,000 “Fulbrighters” have participated in the program since its inception in 1946, according to the program website.
Pearson, who originally applied to teach in Mexico, was an alternate to teach English there. However, she received an email from Fulbright offering her the opportunity to teach in Brazil instead.
The position in Brazil was a once-in-a-lifetime challenge she could not pass up, she said.
Pearson, a recent college graduate, majored in anthropology and Spanish.
She already has experience overseas, having studied in Chile in the spring of 2017.
That opportunity provided a great learning challenge, one she thinks better prepared her for the upcoming work.
“My relationships with immigrants inspired me to (want to) teach English in Mexico and learn more about the country and its education system,” she wrote in a news release.
Her goal is to help others develop the skills to engage in more cross-cultural encounters, she wrote.
Pearson will contribute in more ways than one while on her educational journey. She will conduct tutor training as well as educate others through speaking and writing lessons.
Pearson has taught English both domestically and internationally, worked with elementary, high school and college students in the United States, as well as with fifth-graders in Chile.
In her application, when she first anticipated working in Mexico, she proposed forming a high school environmental club that will discuss environmental issues and create environmental awareness in the community.
Her proposed project aligned with Mexico’s recently announced initiative called the National Strategy for Air Quality, which has a goal of keeping the society informed about air pollution.
Pearson envisioned the group communicating with community leaders and assisting with local environmental endeavors, she wrote.
She will try to pursue the same type of work while in Brazil.
Students who work with her also will be able to learn and practice English individually and as a group.
Upon her return to the United States, Pearson said her goal will be to become an English language teacher, but not until her completion of her Fulbright English teaching assistant opportunity.
Pearson plans to participate in a transition to teaching program while obtaining a master’s degree in education.
Founded in 1837, DePauw is a 100 percent residential, private liberal arts university in Greencastle.
