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Hull Fellowships

The Cordell W. Hull International Fellow Fund, administered by the University Honors Program, awards fellowships twice a year to support transformative international learning, leadership and service experiences for Honors students. The Hull Fellowship is limited to students in the University Honors Program. Completed applications for winter and spring travel are due October 15. Completed applications for summer and fall travel are due February 7.  This award is a reimbursement and students must submit appropriate documentation to receive the reimbursement. The application process is accessed online via the University Honors Program tab on Porches.

The Benefactor: Cordell W. Hull

Cordell W. Hull earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering, with honors, at the University of Dayton in 1956 and was designated a 1994 Distinguished Alumnus of the University. Mr. Hull established the Hull Fellowship Fund in response to the vision of Brother Raymond L. Fitz, S.M, then president of the University, who recognized the increasing need for experiential international learning for students at the University of Dayton.

Mr. Hull is the Founding Chairman (now Emeritus) and Senior Advisor to Infrastructure World LLC (IW). He previously retired from the Bechtel Group, serving for many years as a director, member of the Executive Committee, and a senior officer where he helped lead construction, engineering, development and investment activities for major infrastructure projects throughout the world. He has served as a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, chair of the Advisory Board of the Export-Import Bank of the United States and on many corporate boards throughout the world. Mr. Hull earned his Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from M.I.T. and his J.D. degree, cum laude, from the Harvard Law School. He also holds an honorary doctorate from the Dominican University of California where he is a Trustee Emeritus.

Purpose

  • To support distinctive individual and group experiences, programs, activities, and projects for University Honors students to learn, lead, and serve in an international setting within UD’s Catholic and Marianist traditions.
  • To support research projects, study abroad programs, experiential learning opportunities and scholarly presentations that are integral to a student's course of study and promote multicultural and international learning.
  • Leadership includes, but is not limited to, active involvement in, and/or management of an international service project or agency, or a scholarly or professional organization where students develop skills, resources and compassion that are essential for effective leadership and conscientious service as good stewards both within and beyond the University.

Service is generally defined as active participation in any international project, activity or organization that strengthens community in the Catholic and Marianist spirit, embraces personal dignity, and values the environment and other aspects of the common good, all in the pursuit of peace and social justice.

Proposals that cross disciplines or combine elements of learning, leadership, and service are particularly encouraged.

Hull Experiences

Support from the Cordell W. Hull International Fellows Fund has helped UD Honors students reach academic, career and personal goals across the globe. Read about some of the more recent student experiences below.

Madison studied in Seoul, South Korea at Korea University to research and learn more about East Asian politics and history. She focused on Korean politics and history specifically and also took a Korean language course, which furthered her commitment to teaching English in South Korea after graduation and earning a master's degree in Korean Studies. Her ultimate career goal is to work with the Korean peninsula in international relations, specifically focusing on the relationship between North Korea, South Korea, and the United States. By studying abroad, Madison expanded the notion of community and her role within it to encompass those she met from all over the world. "In our increasingly globalized world, I feel it's important to serve not only those closest to us but also those we barely know. This is especially true in regard to my life as I plan to devote my career to international relations and working on issues from a global perspective."

Claire studied abroad in Geneva, Switzerland and took classes that applied to her Graphic Design major and her minors in Human Rights Studies and Fine Arts. As part of her program, Claire was a graphic design intern for a human rights NGO called International Service for Human Rights. In her position, she assisted with graphic design, website updates, and social media management and was able to combine her passions while learning new professional skills. In addition to her internship, one of her favorite classes was "Media, Diversity, and Society," which focused on an in-depth analysis about different types of media and representation or lack thereof of certain groups and identities. Her favorite part about the course was she had classmates from all over the world that brought their perspectives and experiences into the discussions. "Having the opportunity to be surrounded by diverse perspectives made for an extremely enriching learning environment, further growing my realization into how important it is to provide safe spaces where diverse groups of stories, experiences, and identities can be shared." 

Riley studied abroad with UD's program to Madrid, Spain, an experience that made her more confident in her double major of International Business and Spanish. Navigating the city and speaking with others pushed her to grow her Spanish skills, and interacting with different cultures in and around Spain allowed her to gain practical experience in intercultural communication, something she plans to apply to her future business career. In addition to learning more for both of her degrees, Riley also grew as a leader, especially when it came to confronting new and difficult situations. "More than anything, studying abroad taught me to confidently navigate ambiguity or unknown situations. From learning how to ride all the different forms of public transportation to arriving in unknown cities, communicating without a shared language and more, I constantly found myself in situations where I had no clue what to do. But each time, with a bit of collaboration, creativity and confidence, I got myself out of tricky situations and into incredible adventures. Going forward, I know that when a challenge comes my way, I won’t be confused but instead ready to confront the situation."

Andrew studied abroad in Chile with a cohort of students from the Department of Health and Sport Science. His time was spent taking classes at the Universidad de los Andes and volunteering. In his research methods class, Andrew had opportunities to meet the Chilean Futbol 7s Paralympic Soccer team and conduct his own study regarding the effect of studying abroad on students’ physical health. He also taught children at a Marianist grade school about the importance of exercise and nutrition. The impact of Andrew’s experience is something he will always hold with him. “I count the lessons I learned and the people I met among some of the most valuable of my life.”

Lisa served in Trinidad and Tobago with UD’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity. She spent a week building a retention wall for a home severely damaged by mudslides during the rainy season. While she spent most of her time moving concrete blocks and digging trenches for the wall, Lisa also had the opportunity to play with local school children for an afternoon. She says despite all the challenges her group faced during the trip, it was an amazing experience that helped her realize that even a small group can make a huge, positive impact. “It reminded me of the innate desire of many to help and learn about others, and it reminded me of the unlimited compassion displayed by others and felt within ourselves.”  

Abbey traveled to La Corneta, Nicaragua for the second time as part of Global Brigades. As a member of the leadership team, she helped coordinate medical stations and provided care to people in the village. One of the most meaningful moments of the trip for Abbey came when she reunited with a child she met on the previous trip she made. With a newfound love of service, Abbey hopes she can continue to help underserved populations in her future career as a medical professional. “It is an experience unlike any other, and I feel so blessed to have been a part of it.”

Ellie participated in a six-week service immersion trip to Zambia. She spent time listening to stories, hanging out with the children and learning about the local culture. Being immersed in Zambian culture was a life-changing experience for Ellie. Her time talking to and playing with the children taught her so much about life. She gained a better appreciation of what it means to love, and she hopes to carry that with her into the future. "I want to return there, and I hope to get to know the community better someday."

Josh traveled to Iceland with the GREEN Program, an organization designed for students interested in sustainability. He spent eight days taking classes at the University of Reykjavik on energy usage, hydroelectric energy, geothermal energy and energy economics. Josh also hiked on glaciers and volcanoes, visited sites with environmental significance and experienced Icelandic culture. Studying abroad gave Josh the opportunity to apply his knowledge in a practical setting and further develop his passions for the environment and serving others. “Overall, the trip was an once-in-a-lifetime experience. It connected me with like-minded people, and it inspired me to continue pursuing a career in humanitarian engineering.”

Olivia went to Peru to study Spanish and culture in a new context. By living with a host family and taking small, discussion-based classes, she was able to truly immerse herself in the language. In addition, Olivia was able to see historic sites important to Peruvian and Incan culture, including Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca. She learned from native Peruvians about art, history, dance and food. Through her experience, she gained a better appreciation and knowledge of the culture. “I feel we learned so much more by immersing ourselves into the landscape and by experiencing the Incan ruins hands-on, rather than just reading about them.”

Sam spent six weeks in India and lived with a community of Marianist sisters. She enjoyed living and connecting with the sisters and gained a new perspective on what it means to be a community. Sam also volunteered with the Missionaries of Charity, founded by Mother Teresa, and served the underprivileged in India. This was one of the most powerful and impactful aspects of the trip for Sam. She hopes to take the lessons of compassion she learned and apply them to her future career as a teacher. “I am thankful to be surrounded by a network of encouragement in a community that continually inspires me to work for better.”  

Lauren participated in the Business in Rome study abroad program offered through the School of Business. Being in a different country for just five weeks opened Lauren’s eyes to many cultural differences. She recognized that the American way of living and thinking is not necessarily the standard for the rest of the world. With this new insight, Lauren hopes she can become a more effective and confident leader. “I found it significantly meaningful just to have had the experience of examining myself and gaining an expanded view of my life and of people as a whole.”

Kara spent a semester studying abroad in Maynooth, Ireland. While taking classes, she was able to learn more about Irish culture and traditions. Kara also developed friendships with people she met from other countries like Germany and Italy. Her time abroad helped her grow as a student and a young professional. Cultivating global relationships gave Kara insight on what she would like to do in the future. “It has really taught me how to live in another country, and it has prepared me for a job that travels in the future.” 

CONTACT

Honors Program

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Dayton, Ohio 45469 - 0311
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