Shepherd University alumnus Eli Hall stands beside the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education last year. Courtesy photo

SHEPHERDSTOWN — A graduate from Shepherd University’s Class of 2025 has become the first student from the school to be named a Fulbright student.

On May 9, the Fulbright U.S. Student program announced that Hansford native Eli Hall was being awarded the Fulbright-LUT University Graduate Award. He was selected out of an application pool of around 4,000 to receive this particular award.

“(This is) some remarkable news,” Shepherd University President Mary Hendrix said. “This is a highly prestigious award, which he richly deserves.”

Hall graduated from Shepherd University on May 10, with bachelor’s degrees in political science, global studies and environmental studies. As a Fulbright student, he will continue to develop his knowledge in these and related areas by studying in the master’s program in social sciences, technology, environment and societal change at LUT University (Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology) in Finland.

“If you want to make a lasting impact on the world, or at least a better version of yourself, I think continuous learning is what will get you there,” Hall said.

“I am principally interested in understanding how we can design policy frameworks to better address global challenges,” Hall said. “LUT’s emphasis on food, water, transportation and energy systems will give me the education necessary to make real progress back in the United States.”

During his undergraduate career, Hall dedicated much of his time to social causes, serving as a board member for Conservation West Virginia, student representative to the board of advisors for the Bonnie & Bill Stubblefield Institute for Civil Political Communications and president of the Civility Club. He completed an internship with the Bonnie & Bill Stubblefield Institute for Civil Political Communications from 2023-2024.

Hall also received a number of honors during his time at Shepherd, including being named as a Udall Scholar in 2024, a Truman Scholarship finalist in 2024 and as senior class president.

“We congratulate Eli on this accomplishment and continue to wish him all the best for the future,” said Aillison Mee, Stubblefield Institute communications and events manager. “The Stubblefield Institute wants to thank and celebrate Eli Hall for all of the work he has done with the institute.”

Samuel Greene, Shepherd University Department of Social and Applied Behavioral Sciences co-chair, described Hall as an “ideal” candidate for the Fulbright scholarship and said he was not surprised to hear that Hall had received the award.

“Eli’s selection as Shepherd’s first student Fulbright recipient speaks not only to his academic excellence but also to his leadership and character,” Greene said. “I have great confidence that Eli will be a superb representative of Shepherd and the United States during his time as a Fulbrighter, in Finland and beyond.”

The Fulbright U.S. Student program is an international educational exchange initiative between the United States and 140 partner countries. Scholarship recipients are selected based on academic and professional merit and leadership potential.