University of Iowa Fulbright recipient Laura Wang has landed in Taiwan this month, with Hawkeye spirit in her heart and the desire to be immersed in Asian languages and culture on her mind.

Kristofer May has long had a passion for learning, and that drove him to the opportunity to teach English in Russia through a Fulbright grant.

Lauren Darby has long had a deep passion for helping others, which led to her love of teaching. Now, she has the opportunity of a lifetime — to teach English to students in Germany as a Fulbright scholar.

It is no secret that many Fulbright scholars have an impressive track record. They excel in their fields and, to many, seem to be natural-born leaders among their peers. University of Iowa graduate and Fulbright recipient Destinee Gwee is no exception.

Sarah Lucas’ life has long revolved around music, but it was by chance that she ended up where she is now — on her way to studying music in Hungary as a Fulbright scholar.

Nathalie Halcrow’s parents knew their daughter would excel in school when she finished an entire week’s worth of homework on the first day of the first grade. “We thought she would get a packet every day to play with,” said mother Héléne Halcrow. “Obviously, we were mistaken.” Nathalie Halcrow has yet to slow down. She graduated last spring from the University of Iowa with two degrees, B.A.s in English and French, both with Honors. It took her only three years. Her academic pursuits coupled with her time spent working as a tutor at the UI and volunteering with the Kirkwood Learning Center made her a standout applicant for the Fulbright Scholarship.

Amanda Kloser was born and raised in Dubuque, and she had no plans of leaving. It was not until a year and a half ago that the idea of moving away from her friends and family to a foreign country crossed her mind.

Gillson’s research will focus on how Japanese women use Pure Land Buddhism in their day-to-day lives. Her dissertation is titled “Women Creating the Pure Land: Socially Engaged Buddhism in Japan’s Jodo Sect.” She will be a visiting researcher at Bukkyo University.

Grilli will depart for Greece this fall and will start teaching English to Greek students at an American-sponsored school through the end of the Greek school year in May.

Enrollment numbers are rising across Iowa’s public universities, and this spring that has meant bigger graduating classes, larger venues, and more top honors. Mirroring that growth, UI on Wednesday announced a record 14 students and alumni have landed Fulbright U.S. Student Program grants to conduct research, attend graduate school, pursue creative work, or serve as English teaching assistants overseas in the 2016-2017 season.

Sarah Lucas, a Ph.D. candidate in musicology at the UI, is the winner of a Fulbright Study/Research grant to Hungary for 2016-17.

Megan Wood, a M.A. candidate in Spanish and linguistics at the UI, is the winner of a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship grant to Colombia for 2016-17.