LSU Ogden Honors Students Earn Prestigious Fulbright Awards for Global Study, Research, and Teaching

 

BATON ROUGE, LA – LSU is proud to announce that five outstanding Ogden Honors students and recent graduates have been recognized by the Fulbright U.S. Student Program for the 2025–2026 academic year. These Tigers will represent the United States as cultural ambassadors, promoting mutual understanding and international collaboration through research, graduate study, and English teaching.

Aidan O’Neal, who graduated in May with a degree in environmental engineering, has been named a Fulbright Finalist for a Research Grant to Denmark. There, he will study the country’s globally renowned energy system, focusing on its leadership in renewable integration and sustainable practices. “I hope to bring what I learn home to help advance the U.S. energy system toward a more sustainable future,” O’Neal said.

Darryl Higgins, a recent graduate in biological sciences, was selected for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship. “The ETA program will provide me with a unique opportunity to build lasting relationships and strengthen the communication and cultural skills needed to compassionately care for and educate patients in my future career as a physician,” Higgins said.

Katherine Monroe, who earned dual degrees in Sociology and Spanish this May, will travel to Argentina as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant. Passionate about bilingual speech pathology, Monroe plans to support local speech-language clinics and English classrooms. “By bridging the academic setting with real-world applications of language, I hope to serve as both an English language ambassador and a representative of the rich, vibrant culture of the United States,” she said.

Sydney Grafals, a rising mass communication senior, was selected for the English Teaching Assistant Program in Indonesia. Reflecting on her selection, Grafals shared, “This made me realize how much I care about connecting people through learning and shared experience. I was drawn to Fulbright’s mission of cross-cultural collaboration—not just to solve problems, but to build trust and create lasting relationships.”

LSU celebrates the achievements of these students as they take their academic passions abroad and embody the values of global citizenship, leadership, and service. The university also commends all applicants who pursued this competitive opportunity, demonstrating the bold ambition and purpose that define LSU graduates.