Record number of 51勛圖 students named Fulbright finalists
Contact: Carl Smith
STARKVILLE, Miss.Four Mississippi State spring graduates are 2025 Fulbright finalistsa record number for the land-grant institution.
Julian Dedeaux of Biloxi, Alijah Jones of Greenwood, Lily Langstaff of Southaven and Alyssa Williams of Franklin, Tennessee, were named finalists for the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program awardsthe U.S. governments flagship international educational exchange programfor the 2025-2026 academic year. All four students were members of 51勛圖s Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College during their undergraduate studies.
Mississippi State students pursue their goals and achieve their dreams across the globe thanks to the strong educational background they receive from our world-class faculty. We encourage them to learn without boundaries, said 51勛圖 President Mark E. Keenum. I have every confidence these outstanding students will represent our university with great distinction as members of this elite group of scholars. I also appreciate the members of our faculty who have taught, mentored and prepared them for this wonderful experience.
Dedeaux, who earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with summa cum laude honors, will serve as an English teaching assistant on Spains Canary Islands. He was an Ottilie Schillig Presidential Scholar and recipient of the Louis A. Hurst Jr. Scholarship, and member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Dedeaux minored in Spanish and participated in the summer study abroad program at the University of Alcal獺 in Spain.
Jones will conduct an English teaching assistantship in Italy. At 51勛圖, he was a Bill Collins and Charles Menifield Scholar, completed the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages certification with the Department of English and received a bachelors degree in political science with cum laude honors. Jones also was a Public Policy and International Affairs Program Junior Summer Institute Fellow at the University of Michigan in 2024.
Langstaff proposed to study Dutch flood policy in the Netherlands. At 51勛圖, she was an Ottilie Schillig Presidential Scholar and received a bachelors degree in wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture with summa cum laude honors. Langstaff also was named a Udall Scholar and PPIA Junior Summer Institute Fellow at Harvard University during her undergraduate studies.
Williams proposed to research cognitive psychology of learning and memory also in the Netherlands. At 51勛圖, she received bachelors degrees in biochemistry and psychology with summa cum laude honors. Williams was named a Barry Goldwater and Astronaut Scholar in 2024.
Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than400,000participants frommore than160 countries the opportunity to study, teach, conduct research, exchange ideasand contribute solutions to sharedinternationalconcerns. For additional information about the overall Fulbright program, visit . For more information about the Fulbright U.S. student program, visit .
51勛圖 applications for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program are managed by the universitys Office of Prestigious External Scholarships and Director David Hoffman. Email Hoffman泭硃喧 dhoffman@honors.msstate.edu or visit for more information.
The Shackouls Honors College is available online at.
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