Lawrence University graduates Kaitlin Buelow ’26 and Jude Lawler ’26 will travel to Germany as recipients of 2026 U.S. Fulbright Program fellowships, joining a distinguished group of scholars selected for one of the nation’s most prestigious international exchange programs.
“We are so proud of our Fulbright recipients, who embody a Lawrentian commitment to inquiry and connection,” shared Claire E. Kervin, adjunct associate professor of English and director of fellowships advising. “They will share their knowledge and skills with others and gain a deeper cultural understanding in return.”
Kervin worked with Buelow and Lawler throughout the application process for these highly competitive awards. Established in 1946, the Fulbright Program operates in partnership with more than 140 countries worldwide. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides graduating seniors, graduate students, and young professionals opportunities to pursue graduate study, conduct research, or teach English abroad.
Buelow ’26, Awarded Fulbright Fellowship
For Buelow, receiving a Fulbright fellowship represents both a significant achievement and another step in the right direction as she prepares for a year abroad in Germany.
Buelow’s interest in German Studies grew from a high school language class into an academic passion that combined language, culture, literature, and contemporary social issues. She credits Lawrence’s German Studies faculty and curriculum with shaping that journey.
“Lawrence’s German Studies department has a really incredible pedagogy where every level of language instruction, rather than holding off until full fluency, guides students to negotiate cultural differences,” Buelow shared. “It is a lot easier (for me, at least) to be passionate and motivated to learn about different grammatical cases when you are using them to dig into a poem or a news article.”
Buelow continued, “The entire department is a wonderful community of people who show up for each other, even amidst the Lawrence busy.”
Studying abroad in Berlin further deepened Buelow’s engagement with the language and introduced new academic interests.
“Because I was studying in a foreign language, I was able to explore disciplines I struggled to squeeze into my schedule like political science and sociology while earning German Studies credit,” she said.
Buelow pursued the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant pathway because of her belief in the power of education and the role teachers play in helping students find confidence in their own voices.
“A teacher is not a superhero but an emcee, passing the mic in the form of #2 pencils,” Buelow said.
While looking forward to all aspects of the experience, Buelow is particularly eager to teach writing.
“Teaching writing is my bread and butter,” said Buelow. “The world needs a lot more people in every country who can articulate their argument at a city council meeting or at a biergarten table or on the floor of a congress.”
Buelow shared that mentors, faculty, and hands-on experience across campus played a significant role in preparing her for the Fulbright opportunity.
“Lawrence funding made it possible for me to discover the versatility of my education and put what I’ve learned into practice,” she said. “I have been inspired by faculty, students, and staff from every corner of the college and conservatory.”
As she prepares to spend the coming year in Germany, Buelow sees teaching as one of the most meaningful ways to make a difference.
“If you are hungry to make a difference in the world, try teaching.”
Lawler ’26, Awarded Fulbright Fellowship
Jude Lawler ’26, who double majored in German studies and computer science, also received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) to Germany. Through the fellowship, he will have the opportunity to build on his interest in language and culture while serving as a cultural ambassador in German classrooms.
Lawler’s interdisciplinary studies at Lawrence paired technical problem-solving with global perspectives, preparing him to engage with students from diverse backgrounds while fostering cross-cultural understanding.
“It means a lot to me to win the Fulbright fellowship,” shared Lawler. “My experience working in German studies and working with language in general has allowed me to see how meaningful learning a new language and discovering the cultures connected with that can be.”
He said what attracted him to the Fulbright fellowship were the opportunities to work with students on language acquisition and serve as a figure of cultural exchange.
During the fall term of 2024, Lawler studied abroad in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. It was his first time leaving the United States and his first time being immersed in another language.
“It was a great experience that influenced my decision to apply to return through the Fulbright program,” he shared.
Lawler will be in Passau, Germany, for his Fulbright fellowship, and is excited to learn about the opportunities there while continuing to improve his German fluency.
“I’m hoping my experience as an ETA will show me a lot about working with languages as well as teaching in general,” he said.
Lawler sees parallels between language learning and technology, and he believes that in today’s world, they’re inherently connected.
“I find one of the greatest advantages of today’s online, interconnected world to be how people from completely different areas and cultures can interact with people, art, and resources from around the world,” he said. “I find technology and internet use to be indispensable tools for language learning.”
Lawler feels grateful for his liberal arts education at Lawrence. He said it helped him improve not only in his German studies but that his experience provided him with the framework to help others learn languages in a myriad of ways.
“The opportunities I had to learn in small classes and tutor other students helped prepare me for teaching language learning,” Lawler said. “Lawrence also provided me with the opportunity to study abroad in Germany, which is partially what pushed me to apply for Fulbright in the first place.”
Looking ahead, Lawler said he is still exploring whether teaching will become a long-term career path.
“I’m truly grateful to my German professors, Professor Kervin, my classmates, and everybody who encouraged and assisted me in working for this fellowship.”
