Doane College senior Maryle Reimers has received a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship and will spend the next academic year in Germany teaching English to middle and high-school students.
Reimers continues Doane's long tradition of Fulbright scholars, dating back to 1952. Doane students have received Fulbright scholarships 49 times since the program's inception -- 30 of those awarded in the last 23 years.
Reimers, a native of Boelus, will graduate in May with a degree in music education and a minor in German. She will begin her Fulbright project in September and return in June of 2009.
For Reimers, Germany is a familiar setting. She first traveled to Germany in high school with the Nebraska Ambassadors of Music program. She returned with Doane Choir's Europe tour, then spent the summer of 2007 studying at the Goethe Institut in Schwäbisch Hall, Germany. She will return to Germany in May for a second Doane Choir Europe tour, before returning for the Fulbright in September.
The best experience in all her time in Germany was the weeks spent living with a Schwäbisch Hall family.
"You learn the language and culture best by experiencing family life."
Reimers said support from Doane faculty and staff played a key role in her Fulbright success.
"I'm also pretty lucky to have had the opportunities to travel abroad through Doane - from interterm trips to studying abroad with the honors program."
According to Peter Reinkordt, professor of German, Reimers impressed the campus Fulbright interview committee with the competence that comes partly from her time on stage with Doane music organizations and her time in front of classrooms student teaching.
During her Doane career, Reimers was a student conductor, student teacher and a member of the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Doane Choir, German Club, Doane Honors Program and Pi Lambda Theta Education Honor Society.
Her multiple experiences traveling and studying abroad also demonstrated that she will be a good ambassador of the United States, Reinkordt said.
The Fulbright Scholar Program began in 1946 and is administered by the Institute of International Education. The U.S. Student Fulbright Program is designed to give recent college graduates, graduate students, doctoral candidates, young professionals and artists opportunities for personal and career development and international experiences.
When Reimers returns from her Fulbright, she plans to teach instrumental music and complete a master's degree.
She is the daughter of Leonard and Mary Reimers of Boelus.