UTSA alumnus will travel to Cambodia as Fulbright scholar

Since graduating, he has also traveled to Paraguay to complete an internship with Fundación Para La Tierra, a nonprofit organization studying, conserving and teaching about the biodiversity of the region.

Additionally, Sandoval has continued to stay connected to UTSA, working as a laboratory assistant in The Smith Wildlife lab at UTSA, which was previouly led by Jennifer Smith, a former assistant professor in the UTSA Department of Integrative Biology. He also served as a counselor for entomology and hydrology-themed summer camps at UTSA this summer.

Sandoval submitted his Fulbright application through the UTSA Office of Nationally Competitive Awards. The office supported him through the application process by interviewing him, helping him select a country that matched his interests, brainstorming with him on how to tell his story, and reviewing essay drafts.

Fulbright winners receive a monthly stipend along with travel benefits, health benefits and free training. Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected based on their academic or professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields.

In Cambodia, Sandoval will work with local instructors to help teach the English language, while also serving as a grassroots cultural ambassador of the United States.

"I want to help Cambodia because I believe it is a country mostly ignored by the Western world, and I could help show that the U.S. does care about the people there," Kane said. "I cherish helping people born without the opportunities I had and encountering new cultures to expand ideas and compassion."

After completing the 10-month position, Sandoval plans to apply for an international master's program in environmental science or related fields.

Two other UTSA graduates, Jaci Finch '23 and Danny Vidaurri '23, received Fulbright awards this year. Finch is a current graduate student at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and will be traveling to Viljandi, Estonia, to work at the Viljandi Library American Center. She originally applied to the program as an undergraduate through UTSA and was a semi-finalist; this year she applied again through UTRGV. Vidaurri, who applied as an at-large candidate, will travel to Spain under the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant program.

In fall 2023, the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs named UTSA a Fulbright HSI Leader, recognizing the university's noteworthy participation across Fulbright programs for students, faculty and administrators for the second year in a row.

Since 2020, 17 UTSA students have received Fulbright scholarships. The UTSA Office of Nationally Competitive Awardsactively promotes Fulbright program opportunities for students and works with them to enhance their eligibility. In April, UTSA welcomed a Fulbright delegation to campus, which included Director of U.S. student programs Dan Kramer, as well as Fulbright alumni. The visit was part of an initiative to grow Fulbright's presence at UTSA.

Last year, a record 18 Roadrunners applied for the student program.

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