Eastern Michigan University student Elaine Gurich has recently been awarded the Fullbright scholarship, which will pay her way to Germany.
Gurich is a fifth year senior majoring in music and German language and literature with a minor in arts management. She has received this scholarship because of her hard work and the guidance of professors Carla Damiano and Margrit Zinggeler from the German department.
Gurich began studying German in high school and her passion for it continued into college. She originally had the opportunity to travel to Germany in high school to perform with a music tour.
Her love for the language has been solidified since that trip and she continues to learn more about Germany as a whole. Gurich is very excited to be returning to Germany, having previously studied abroad there in Giessen. This time, she will only be about ten minutes away from Giessen and able to visit her friends there.
Her goal on this trip is, “to actually live there, not be just a visitor,” along with being able to “see something new…see what is out there.”
When Gurich is not out traveling the world, she is keeping busy on campus. She has been involved in German Club, and the Music Therapy Student Association. She is also a member of the Honors
College and served as a first year Honors College mentor.
Gurich is the service chair of the Stoic Society, which is the oldest honorary association of EMU. It was founded in 1909, and is deeply involved in service around Washtenaw. Besides volunteering in the community, she works at the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office, with the Music and Dance department.
She will be graduating this spring with honors.
Gurich has enjoyed all of these experiences here at EMU. Her future plans upon returning are to receive a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management, and then work for a cultural or music nonprofit organization.
Germany has become a big part of her and her life. Not just the language, which she describes as “a living puzzle,” but also the culture itself.
Gurich says that the Fullbright scholarship is worth the effort, and she is glad to be able to have such an amazing opportunity.