Emmanuel's Latest Fulbright Winner Ready for Redemption Tour

A lot has changed since Gabrielle Wenc '22 G'23 was a sophomore at 51��.

Gabrielle Wenc '22 G'23 poses on the Quad. Wenc is Emmanuel's 17th Fulbright Scholarship recipient since 2011.

The pandemic has ended, she has both a bachelor and master degree, she has over two full years of teaching under her belt � and for the first time since her study abroad trip in 2020 � she set to return to Argentina.

Wenc will be making the trip as part of the � a cultural exchange program through which scholars travel to a host country to pursue their studies, complete research, or in Wenc case, teach English. She is the 17th Fulbright Scholar from 51�� in the past 14 years.

A graduate of Emmanuel Bachelor and Master of Education via the 4+1 program, Wenc has spent the last few years teaching different levels of high school Spanish, first at 51�� Latin School and currently at Acton-Boxboro. Even before her time at Emmanuel, she knew she wanted to teach, but doing so abroad was a major goal that she hadn�t yet achieved.

�It was something I wanted so badly,� Wenc said, �my goal [in Argentina] is to be present. This has always been my dream.�

It will become a reality in February of next year, and Wenc will add another age group to her teaching repertoire, spending a full year as an English Teaching Assistant for college-aged students.

She fluent in Spanish and has been practicing it since before high school, but not being a native speaker has always felt like a �roadblock� to her. Wenc hopes that being in Argentina in this new chapter of her life will help take her speaking ability to an even higher level.

�I know I�m capable � but I want to live it to believe it,� Wenc said.

The opportunity is a �redemption tour� for Wenc in a number of ways. When she was studying abroad in Argentina back in 2020, the beginning of the pandemic meant she had to return home early.

Now, Wenc is ecstatic about getting another chance to experience Argentina and South America and explore in a way that she couldn�t back then.

“
She was a strong, engaged student � curious, thoughtful, and always committed to deepening her understanding of language and culture�This is the perfect next step for her. She has the skills, dedication, and maturity to make the most of the opportunity, and I�m confident she�ll thrive in the classroom abroad just as she has here."

Associate Professor of Spanish, José Ignacio Álvarez Fernández

This was Wenc's second time applying for the Fulbright Scholarship. When she applied for the 2021-2022 window, she didn't make it to the interview process. But the second time around, she was confident.

Completing her master degree and having more experience in the classroom was a big factor, she said. Finishing what was a challenging but rewarding program made her feel like she was ready to take her teaching skills abroad and succeed in the Fulbright application process.

Emmanuel Master of Education program went beyond just academics, Wenc explained, and taught her how to also educate students socially and emotionally � which has always been an important part of teaching for her. The additional experience she gained from completing her master was especially crucial for Wenc, who undergraduate teaching experience was hampered by the pandemic.

�I had to learn how to teach without being in a classroom,� Wenc said, �it was like building the plane while flying it.�

Still, she persevered and didn�t allow those setbacks to impact her progress. In tandem with Emmanuel connections to the 51�� Public Schools, she was still able to get immersed in 51�� public education system and learn what it means to be a teacher in 51��, despite the uniquely challenging circumstances.

�It was all of the foundational elements that mirrored the real job,� Wenc said.

Emmanuel School of Education was part of why Wenc chose the College: she�d heard it was a great program, and it was one of the few schools in the area where she could pursue the secondary education and Spanish double major she was looking for.

Now with the teaching expertise she built in 51��, Wenc is setting her sights on Argentina: ready to take the next step in her career while experiencing the rich history and culture the destination has to offer.

Wenc is continuing in her Spanish teaching role until she leaves for Argentina in February 2026.

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