Fencing's Tiburcio Receives Fulbright Scholar Award

PHILADELPHIA - The U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board has announced the Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards for 2024-25, with senior Temple fencing student-athlete Diana Tiburcio earning the prestigious honor.

"This means the world to me! The biggest thing for me is that I get to go abroad and work at the Max Planck Institute in Mulheim, Germany for chemical energy conversion. I'm also getting to say that the Fulbright is sponsoring me for this opportunity," said Tiburcio. "I'm so excited to see how it kick starts my scientific career and helps me go forward as I pursue my PHD."

More than 2,000 Fulbright U.S. Students—recent college graduates, graduate students, and early career professionals from all backgrounds—pursue graduate study, conduct research, or teach English in schools abroad each year.

They are recognized alongside more than 800 faculty, researchers, administrators, and established professionals who teach or conduct research in affiliation with institutes abroad annually through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. Fulbrighters form ongoing research collaborations and lay the groundwork for future partnerships between institutions.

Tiburcio went on explain her upcoming goals working abroad.

"I'll be working under Dr. Serena DeBeer on a project that collaborates with other institutions throughout Germany, with the objective to support the National Hydrogen Strategy. We are trying to kickstart the technology needed for wide scale hydrogen fuel cell implementation to reduce the need for fossil fuels," explained Tiburcio. "My project entails studying bimetallic catalysts which facilitate the conversion of ammonia to hydrogen gas. Hydrogen fuel cells can then use that hydrogen gas and convert it into electricity."

The Malvern, Pa. native Diana has been a model scholastic student-athlete in her four seasons at Temple University, holding a cumulative 3.98 GPA and will graduate in May of 2024 with degree in mechanical engineering. Diana's list of academic achievements includes a Goldwater Scholarship, an Arthur Ashe Sports Scholar, a President's Honor Roll selection, and the distinction of being Temple's Trustee Ten for having one of the 10 highest GPAs among Temple student-athletes.

"Temple University is proud of our many scholar student-athletes, but one Owl of whom we are extremely proud is Diana Tiburcio, expressed Jodi Levine Laufgraben, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs. "As a Goldwater Scholar and now a Fulbright Award recipient, Diana's accomplishments are notable and impressive. She will complete her mechanical engineering degree this spring and the entire Temple community looks forward to watching her continue to soar."

Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided over 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals of all backgrounds with the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. Fulbrighters exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections, and work to address complex global challenges. Notable Fulbrighters include 62 Nobel Laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 80 MacArthur Fellows, 41 heads of state or government, and thousands of leaders across the private, public, and non-profit sectors.

Fulbright recipients meet, work with, and learn from the people of the host country, sharing daily experiences. The program facilitates cultural exchange through direct interaction in the classroom, field, home, and in daily tasks. These experiences allow the grantee to gain an appreciation of others' viewpoints and beliefs, the way they do things, and the way they think. Visit the Fulbright U.S. Student Program website to learn more.

The Fulbright US Student Program is administered at Temple through Scholar Development and Fellowships Advising. There is one more Fulbright information session approaching on May 13. Juniors, seniors, graduate students and recent alumni are encouraged to participate. Learn more about how Fellowships Advising helps students apply for Fulbright scholarships and other external awards.

Diana ended her Owls' fencing career in March with a 102- 60 career record. The Cherry and White standout was an All-NIWFA plaudit winner and has been part of the sabre squad that won four consecutive NIWFA championships in her four years on collegiate strip. Diana's on-the-strip play was an integral part of the Temple Owls fencing program's continued success, placing within the top 15 of the country, year in-and-year out, and helping the program to 28 straight NIWFA Team Championships.

Temple University Athletics

Fencing's Tiburcio Receives Fulbright Scholar Award

Players Mentioned

Diana Tiburcio

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