Ebangwese Earns Fulbright Research Grant

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Orange volleyball All-American Santita Ebangwese '19, G'20, is one of 10 Syracuse University students and alumni who will make an impact around the globe as a 2020-21 recipient of an award from the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Ebangwese, a biomedical engineering graduate student in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, received an open research and study grant and will study at Paris-Saclay University in France.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program funds a number of different awards that include English teaching assistantships (ETA) and study/research grants in over 140 countries. A record 44 Syracuse University students applied to the Fulbright U.S. Student Program this year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most recipients will begin their placements after Jan. 1, 2021, contingent on travel advisories lifting.

Ebangwese is working toward becoming a research doctor and wants to focus on reginitive medicine. She's currently working on completing her master's thesis and preparing to take the MCAT this summer.

Ebangwese has collected numerous honors in her time at Syracuse, including receiving the 2019 Soladay Award, the highest honor presented to a Syracuse senior student-athlete, and being recognized as a 2018 AVCA Honorable Mention All-American. She was also a 2018 Senior CLASS Award Finalist, a 2018 CoSIDA Third Team Academic All-American, the 2018 ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and was a four-time All-ACC Academic Team honoree.

The Rochester native helped lead the Orange to their first NCAA tournament appearance in 2018 as a senior. Ebangwese was on the All-ACC first team twice and holds Syracuse records for single-season hitting percentage (.425) and career hitting percentage (.351). The middle blocker also ranks top-10 in program history with 567 total blocks, 484 block assists, 83 solo blocks and 1.24 blocks per set.

After an illustrious volleyball career, Ebangwese walked onto the Orange women's soccer team in Spring 2019. She saw action in four games and primarily worked with the newcomers in a mentoring role. Following the season, she was hired as a volunteer assistant coach with the volleyball team.

Syracuse University's full release on the 10 Fulbright Award recipients can be read here. More information on Fulbright can be seen here.

Syracuse University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Santita Ebangwese

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