HELENA – A Carroll College alum is the school’s first ever recent graduate to receive a prestigious Fulbright award.
Cierra Powell will serve as a cultural ambassador in the Canary Islands starting in September, serving as an English Teaching Assistant for early childhood and elementary education.
She graduated from Carroll in May of 2018 and studied international relations, Spanish, and Latin American studies. Powell also studied abroad in multiple foreign countries, including Spain, as well as Ecuador through the Gilman Scholarship program. She is now an ambassador for the program.
As a Fulbright scholar, Powell told MTN News she’ll emphasize service while she’s abroad.
“Aside from being an English teaching assistant abroad, we’re required to do something more, in terms of community engagement,” said Powell. “I pledged to myself that I would really, really work hard to volunteer my time to the global migration crisis that’s relevant worldwide, but in Europe right now.”
Powell was born in Miles City, graduated from high school in Billings and is a first-generation college student.
Her application for the Fulbright took more than half a year. Powell said she can’t wait to get started.
“I think my advice for anyone would be, if it’s something you’re interested in, or think you might be interested in, that’s reason enough to go forth and try,” she said.
Powell told MTN, her mom also graduated from college last year, with a degree in social work.
Her mom will visit her while she’s abroad, and they’re planning day trips to places like Portugal.
Powell is a vote clerk for the Montana House of Representatives. Long term, she plans to attend graduate school and work in diplomacy.
According to Carroll, there have been faculty Fulbright recipients from the school, as well as alumni recipients. But Powell is the school’s first recent graduate to receive the award.
Congratulations, Cierra!
