When University of North Georgia (UNG) alumnae Melissa Silva first enrolled at the university, she focused on academics and her work as a paraprofessional at South Hall Middle School. The Gainesville, Georgia, resident didn't think she had time to apply for a scholarship.
Then Dr. Alexander Wisnoski, assistant professor of history, inspired Silva to apply for a nationally competitive scholarship.
"My professor said we needed to do undergraduate research or study abroad. He said we need to do something that makes us standout from the rest," she said. "That is when it hit me that I needed to try."
Silva tried and succeeded twice.
First, she received a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to spend summer 2019 in Spain. The Gilman program offers scholarships of up to $5,000 to outstanding U.S. undergraduate Pell grant recipients to participate in credit-bearing study abroad programs and career-oriented internships in countries around the world.
Second, Silva received a highly prestigious and competitive scholarship to become an English Teaching Assistant through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. The national fellowship program enables graduates to pursue academic endeavors overseas. It is designed to increase mutual understanding between U.S. citizens and residents of more than 160 foreign countries.
"Fulbright is such a great opportunity to experience a different culture," said Silva, who in August 2019 earned a bachelor's degree in modern languages with a concentration in Spanish language and literature. "I love that it opened up doors to jobs that I never thought possible."
For the 2019-20 academic year, Silva taught students in the Kyrgyz Republic in Asia. Upon her return to the United States, she had a teaching job ready for her thanks to her participation in UNG's College of Education (COE) Realizing Inspiring Successful Educators (RISE) program.
The RISE program is a partnership between the COE and Hall County Schools that stipulates the school district funds the tuition of its heritage Spanish-speaking graduates who enroll in UNG's teacher education program. UNG then supplements any additional needs such as calculators, books and other supplies. Students also work as paraprofessionals with English learners in Hall County elementary schools. Upon graduation, they will receive a job offer from Hall County Schools.
Silva was the first undergraduate student to complete the RISE program in August 2019. She was offered a job at a Hall County middle school.
Silva said teaching has always been her dream, especially since it runs in the family.
"My mom was a kindergarten teaching assistant in Mexico, and my cousin is a middle school teacher," she said. "I remember going into his class when I was little and watching him with awe, and I thought, 'This is what I want to do.'"
Now she has taught at home and abroad.
