Two recent graduates awarded renowned Fulbright scholarships
Two graduates from the Class of 2025 have been named Fulbright recipients. Allison Benjamin and Adele Varley have been awarded scholarships for the 2025-2026 academic year through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.
The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international education exchange program. After a highly competitive selection process, winners study, conduct research and/or teach abroad for a year.
Allison Benjamin
Benjamin, of Woodbury, Minnesota, majored in Spanish and Hispanic studies and sociology. As a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant, she will spend the coming year at a university in Colombia, where she’s eager to immerse herself in the local community.
“I can’t wait to get to know the people and culture,” she says. “I’m also excited to teach—I love language learning.”
Benjamin credits Ryan Spangler, PhD, her major advisor, for encouraging her to explore the Fulbright program. “He’s provided guidance on how to make myself the best candidate I can, and what's more, been a shining example of what it is to be a kind and selfless person.” She's also grateful for the “mentorship, patience and wisdom” of Samantha Senda Cook, PhD, throughout the Fulbright application process.
Looking ahead, Benjamin is considering a future in medicine, potentially after a year of service in a Latin American country or on the U.S.-Mexico border. “Speaking Spanish, loving other cultures, making connections and advocating for social justice will continue to be a big part of my life,” she says.
Adele Varley
Varley, a Minneapolis native, majored in English and Spanish and Hispanic studies. During her Fulbright year, she will serve as an English Teaching Assistant in La Rioja, an autonomous community in northern Spain.
Having studied abroad in Spain the summer before her senior year, Varley is eager to return—and deepen her understanding of the Spanish culture and work closely with secondary school students.
She says her Fulbright came to fruition thanks to the guidance of Creighton faculty and staff, especially Ryan Spangler, PhD, and Samantha Senda-Cook, PhD. “They encouraged me throughout my application process, and I would not have been able to receive this grant without their advice and support,” she says.
As she considers a future career in education, Varley sees her Fulbright experience as a meaningful next step: “I believe my Fulbright year will be invaluable for me.”
Interested in applying to be a Fulbright scholar? Reach out to Creighton's Fulbright Program Advisor, Samantha Senda-Cook, PhD, for more information.
