After securing a slot in the 8 qualifiers out of 191 applicants nationwide in the competitive Fulbright Graduate Program Fellowship last April 2015, Mark Preston S. Lopez, a faculty member of the Mountain Province State Polytechnic College - Teacher Education Department will matriculate at the University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville, USA this January 2016 for his doctorate. He will major in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Curriculum, Teaching and Teacher Education.
Being the first-ever Fulbright scholar of MPSPC, the Board of Trustees has approved his study leave with pay for three (3) years to complete his degree. The prestigious Fulbright program being administered by the International Institute of Education (IIE) based in New York City and the Philippine-American Education Foundation (PAEF) headed by Dr. Esmeralda Cunanan, the Executive Director, shall provide for his tuition cost, stipend, living and book allowance. His application for PhD was also approved by three (3) other universities in the States but he has opted to study at the University of Florida because his study objectives are best suited to the program being offered there. Upon completion of his degree, he is expected to return to his home country, particularly MPSPC to share the repertoire of knowledge that he would gain from his overseas studies and exposure.
The Fulbright Fellowship is an open competition based on individual merit and requires the following from applicants: academic excellence (merit-based); ambassadorial skills and leadership potential; commitment to serve the Philippines (most especially the rural areas) and basic citizenship without regard to race, religion, gender, geographical location or financial need;
Mr. Lopez obtained his Master’s degree from Simmons College in May 2012 in Boston under the International Ford Foundation Fellowship program based in the USA.
Mark Preston S. Lopez, 3rd from right joins his fellow Fulbright Graduate Program scholars during a reception dinner and pre-departure orientation hosted by US Ambassador Philip S. Goldberg (middle) at the US Embassy in Manila.
His working experiences were gained at the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) as an instructor for four years, as the Executive Assistant to the President of the Nueva Vizcaya State University for five years before he decided to teach home-based. Currently, he is the Cultural Affairs Director of MPSPC where he supervises the performing arts groups and the various cultural affairs of the college.
