Graduate earns Fulbright award to teach in Argentina

July 15, 2025 (Volume 48, Number 20)
Article by Joseph Martin

Emmy Scott sitting on rocks near a shoreline

Emmy Scott, ’21, earned a Fulbright ETA award and will teach English classes in Argentina.

Emmy Scott, ’21, received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) grant to teach English classes in Argentina during the 2025-2026 school year.

Scott was a dual major, earning bachelor's degrees in Global Studies and Social Impact, and Spanish, in addition to a minor in Latin American Studies. She worked at the Grand Rapids Hispanic Center as a civil and human rights advocate, helping connect the Hispanic community with resources.

Scott said she hopes her experiences at Grand Valley and with the Grand Rapids Hispanic community have prepared her well, so she can make a lasting impact on the college-aged students in Argentina who will be in her classes.

It was Brenda Tooley, associate director of the Center for Undergraduate Scholar Engagement, who told Scott about the Fulbright ETA. The application process took nearly a year, consisting of several essays and revisions, three recommendations and a foreign language evaluation.

Scott said Tooley, CUSE staff and the Office of Fellowships were integral in helping her through the application process. Tooley said she was excited when she heard the news of Scott earning the Fulbright award.

“I am delighted that Emmy has received a Fulbright ETA-Argentina award," Tooley said. "She is immensely deserving and I am delighted to have come to know her and consider her a friend as I walked alongside her through the application process. She will be an outstanding citizen diplomat for the United States during her year in Argentina.”

Scott encouraged students and alumni to pursue competitive awards like the Fulbright. "Even if you don’t get it, you should try anyway," she said. "It’s a worthwhile opportunity and there’s always the thought of, 'If I wasn’t doing this, what would I be doing instead?'"