WEST COLUMBIA, SC -- An Airport High School teacher has been awarded a Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Program grant.
Christina Wingard, a social studies teacher, is one of 76 US citizens who will travel abroad in 2019-20 for the program, a year-long professional development opportunity for elementary, middle, and high school teachers to develop skills for preparing students for a competitive global economy.
Fulbright educators address critical global challenges in all fields, while building relationships, knowledge and leadership in support of the United States’ long-term interests. Many Fulbright alumni have achieved distinction in many areas, including 59 who have been awarded the Nobel Prize and 84 who have received Pulitzer Prizes.
“I applied to the Fulbright program on the recommendation of (Airport) colleague Caitlyn Rasmussen,” Wingard said. “She was a participant several years ago, and it was life-changing for her. She initiated a program at Airport that emphasizes global awareness, and I wanted to be a part of it.”
Wingard was selected based on academic and professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential.
Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 380,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists, professionals and scientists the opportunity to study, teach, research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.
“So many of our students are not able to travel, and I want to be able to bring a part of the world back to them. I am eager to learn about other cultures and share it with my Airport students,” Wingard said.
“I am so excited and honored to have been chosen for this prestigious program and represent Airport High and Lexington Two.”