Fulbright Honors: Shaping the Next Generation of Global Leaders

Show Notes

Baylor continues to be one of the nation’s top Fulbright-producing institutions, and in this episode of Baylor Connections, two students who recently earned the prestigious opportunity to become a Fulbright scholar share that experience. Ella Carlile, who just earned her bachelor’s degree in linguistics, will be headed to South Korea, while Alan Koroluk, also a 2026 graduate with a political science major and entrepreneurship minor, is going to Mexico City. On the program, they recount how Baylor helped prepare them for the experience, and what they’re hoping to learn as they step into new cultures, experiences and communities around the world.

The conversation highlights:

• What they were doing and how they reacted when they learned they had received a Fulbright 
• the different paths Fulbright scholars can take, from teaching English in South Korea to working in business in Mexico City 
• how Baylor’s hands-on experiences helped prepare them for a highly competitive global program 
• Ella Carlile’s journey into linguistics and her passion for teaching English abroad 
• Alan Koroluk’s path from business to political science and entrepreneurship—and his focus on international business 
• the classes and experiences that shaped them, from bilingual education work to philanthropy and entrepreneurship leadership 
• how both students developed practical skills through real-world opportunities at Baylor 
• the role of mentors, alumni, and Baylor’s structured support in navigating the Fulbright application process 
• what they’re most looking forward to—cultural immersion, community, and even the food in their host countries 
• how Fulbright reflects Baylor’s broader mission to prepare students to serve and lead in a global community

Transcript

Derek Smith:
Hello, and welcome to Baylor Connections. I'm Derek Smith, and today, we're talking with two students who will be flinging their green and gold afar as a part of the Fulbright Program. Baylor is a top Fulbright-producing institution in the nation, and we've got two students who are a big part of that with us today, Alan Koroluk and Ella Carlile. Alan will be traveling to Mexico City this fall, and Ella will be traveling to South Korea in January. But they recently received the awards. It's an exciting and busy time, as they're both graduating, and we're really glad to have them both on the program with us today. Ella, Alan, congratulations on multiple fronts, and thanks so much for joining us.

Ella Carlile:
Thank you so much.

Alan Koroluk:
Thank you so much for having us.

Ella Carlile:
Yes. Thank you.

Alan Koroluk:
Yeah.

Derek Smith:
Really great to have you here. I know in the midst of this, as this airs ... We're talking to you a little before it airs, just before you all graduate. Congrats on that, and then, y'all will soon, relatively soon be headed off abroad for the Fulbright Program. Let's just dive right in, and Ella, I'll start with you. We'll talk about what you're doing, but tell us the emotion first. What were you doing when you found out that you received the Fulbright Award, and how did you react?

Ella Carlile:
My word. So I was originally selected as an alternate, which is a bit of a wait list. But I was in the middle of class, and I looked at my computer. There was an email that went through, and it said, "Congrats. You've been selected as a finalist." I immediately ran out of class, and I just called my mom. I just had to, and she was just overwhelmed with emotion. I was overwhelmed with emotion, and then it just started running through the grapevine of Illinois. And so people started to find out, and yeah. Just so grateful for this opportunity, but ...

Derek Smith:
Well, I'm sure your family was very proud.

Ella Carlile:
Yes.

Derek Smith:
Baylor's proud of you, and I hope your professor was understanding of you leaving class for that.

Ella Carlile:
Oh. Yes. Yes. Of course.

Derek Smith:
That seems like a worthy reason. Alan, what about you? How did you find out?

Alan Koroluk:
So I had a little funny story with my finding out that I won the Fulbright. I was actually on do not disturb, because I was studying from my GMAT to get into the MBA. I was on a Slack group chat with a lot of other semi-finalists from around the globe, and I found out that the application, or the results came out from that Slack group chat [inaudible 00:02:33] came out. So then, I checked, and I found out I was a finalist. Then, I checked my phone, and it turns out that I had received a congratulations from Dr. Benyousky, who was a program director, two minutes before Fulbright actually sent me the notification that I won. So I think that was pretty funny, but I was ecstatic. I was super proud of myself that the award was won.

Derek Smith:
Yeah. Who'd you call? Who'd you have to let know when you had the chance to?

Alan Koroluk:
So as soon as I won, one of my very good friends, Brianna called me, and I just told her right away. Because it just happened serendipitously, but I told her, "I have to hang up. I have to call my mom, because I just won the Fulbright." My mom was super ecstatic, and it was awesome. It was a great experience.

Derek Smith:
Well, that's really exciting. It's exciting to see students like you getting these opportunities, and the ways you represent Baylor, and just the things you learned from these experiences. We'll talk more about this as we go on, but I want to get the brief. What's the short version of where you're going and what each of you are doing through the Fulbright program? Alan, we'll start with you.

Alan Koroluk:
Sure. So I'll be doing the binational business program in Mexico City. So essentially, mine's a little different than other typical awards. So I won't be teaching English, and I won't be doing a study or research project. I'll be working at a company in Mexico City, hopefully in venture capital, for the 10-month period.

Derek Smith:
And what about you, Ella?

Ella Carlile:
Yeah. So I will be going to South Korea in January, and I was selected for an English teaching assistant award. So it's called an ETA. You go into the local schools, and you're kind of an assistant to the local teachers teaching English. And so yeah. It lasts about 11 months.

Derek Smith:
That's exciting. You're a linguistics major.

Ella Carlile:
Yes. Yes.

Derek Smith:
So that seems to make a lot of sense.

Ella Carlile:
Mm-hmm.

Derek Smith:
A great tie-in, linguistics for Ella. Political science major, entrepreneurship minor for Alan. Let me ask you a little bit about the process that led you to at least the areas ... you're kind of your calling, where you're going professionally. Ella, start with you. Tell us a little more about your major, why you chose it, and what are some of the things you've wanted to do with that?

Ella Carlile:
Yeah. So I actually started my college journey in Illinois. I went to my community college, Illinois Central College, and I was able to work part-time. Then, also, I was able to volunteer. So I taught ESL for two years to advanced English learners. And so once I came to Baylor, I wanted to pursue a bachelor's in education, but then, I started going into the linguistic avenues. I liked that a lot better, and I could complete it in two years. And so I ended up going in that avenue, and I could do more of a formal language study, as well, in that. And so yeah. So now that I've been studying linguistics, I've just really thrived in it, and I just wanted to teach English abroad, too, through that.

Derek Smith:
Have there been any classes or activities you've been a part of here at Baylor that are particularly meaningful or just your favorites as students?

Ella Carlile:
Yeah. I had the opportunity to join a class called Bilingual Acquisition in Education. So we partnered with local bilingual Spanish English schools, and we studied bilingual development in children in those schools. And so it really helped the educators and their parents, the students' parents, as well, in that process. But yeah. I would say that and then also my Korean class. That's really where I found most of my community at Baylor. I started there my first semester at Baylor, and it just ended a few days ago. So yes. It was a really good opportunity, but ...

Derek Smith:
Sounds like a great experience. A lot of hands-on experience that you've received both here and even before you were a student at Baylor.

Ella Carlile:
Yes. Yes. Of course. Mm-hmm.

Derek Smith:
Alan, same questions for you. What are the things you want to do, and how did the poli sci major and entrepreneurship minor come together for you?

Alan Koroluk:
Right. So my story's actually kind of insane. I came into Baylor as a pre-business, and I wanted to do business my entire life, I think. Both my parents owned their own companies. My mom, she's an attorney, owns her own law firm, and my dad, he's a CEO of a logistics company. But I actually exceeded the retake policy in the business school. So they actually removed me from the business school program.
Essentially, I switched majors to political science, because I know my mom's an attorney. I was also interested in that. And so I kind of flipped my major and minor, and now I'm doing poli sci. Then, I also found out that the minor of entrepreneurship is the same amount of hours as the major. So I actually really got to indulge in both law and business, and I just fell in love with it. Then, I pursued the ... I'm the only person in the university to receive a certificate in global business as a non-BBA student, which is awesome. And so yeah. Just, whatever happens in life, just know that if you want something, you can achieve it. Use me as testimony, but yeah. Now, I'm going to get the Fulbright.

Derek Smith:
That's great. So business is a passion. Is international business really that next thing for you?

Alan Koroluk:
Correct. Yes. I want to do international business between pretty much Latin countries and the US, I think. Especially how the world is right now, I think that that is very pivotal in myself and society, as well.

Derek Smith:
Have you had a favorite class or activity that's really shaped you or just, again, been something fun for you?

Alan Koroluk:
Yeah. I've actually had two things that I think shaped my entire Baylor trajectory. First was my Philanthropy and Public Good class with Dr. Hogue. We are given $100,000, and we disperse them to local nonprofits. I think just sitting and acting as a board of directors and really analyzing real companies to making a real impact really shaped my mindset of viewing that us students will make real impact.
Then, the other thing that really affected me was being president of the Oso Launch program. The Oso Launch program is the program from the Entrepreneurship Department for student entrepreneurs. So I was speaking with every entrepreneur in the Baylor ecosystem and just helping them and guiding them. I was doing all that without being a business major, which is awesome. But I think those two aspects really shaped my whole Baylor trajectory.

Derek Smith:
Well, not surprisingly, a lot of varied experiences for you both, the hand-on experiences, and good in the classroom, as well, which makes sense. Because we know the Fulbright Program is very highly competitive, and you all were able to emerge through that process to get these opportunities, which is obviously very exciting. We asked you the short version of this a little bit, and I know as we talk here in the month of May, there's still pieces of the program that are coming together for you both. You'll find out more as we move into the summer months and beyond. But Alan, let's talk with you a little bit more. What can you tell us about what you'll be doing on the ground when you get to Mexico City?

Alan Koroluk:
So the first thing I'll be doing is getting some great Mexican food. I told myself that.

Derek Smith:
There you go.

Alan Koroluk:
I'm getting some authentic tacos al pastor, but the second thing would be indulging into my program, I guess. And so the way that it works is that there's 15 different companies, and there's 15 candidates who won the award. We have to interview with all 15 companies, and they interview all of us. Then, we get matched. So we rank them from one to 15, and they rank us one to 15. So the goal is to rank with a venture capital firm and, essentially, that I would be working with real startups in the Latin American marketplace and ecosystem.

Derek Smith:
Do you know a little bit about what you'll be doing? Is it a little bit of everything with a company?

Alan Koroluk:
Yeah. I think it depends on which company I get placed with. I know there's some consulting firms. There's some IB firms. There's some tech firms, but whatever it is, I'm super grateful to have won the award and to just go in there with full everything, I guess.

Derek Smith:
When you describe what you're interested in, I think it paints the picture of why this is a good fit for you, but why was it particularly compelling for you to go after this? There's a risk. You might not get it, but it's something you wanted. Why was it a compelling opportunity for you?

Alan Koroluk:
I think that going over the profiles of the awards they gave you, reading over the application for the financial business program was, to a T, what I wanted to do. It was an intersection between international business and law, and working at a company in Mexico City is really my passion. Essentially, going to Mexico City was especially sentimental to me, because I was born in Mexico. I was born in Monterrey, and I haven't never been back since I was a little kid. And so going back to the place that God gave me birth and that I was born, and it's really more of a passion to me. Because it's where I was born, and I think going back there, it's really, it's a little more purposeful and meaningful to me.

Derek Smith:
As you're writing your story, as you're sharing, as you are applying, as you're sharing your story, what are some things that stood out to you that you wanted to share about yourself?

Alan Koroluk:
Yeah. I think the fact that I was born in Mexico, but I've never been back there since I was a little kid. Growing up, I've always been at an intersection of both cultures. I've always been too Mexican to be fully American and too American to be fully Mexican. And so this is something I wrote in my essay, as well, about how going back to Mexico City with intent, and purpose, and my birthright, it's really important to me.

Derek Smith:
Yeah. You're going to find out more about yourself even as a US [inaudible 00:11:49] down there, aren't you?

Alan Koroluk:
Exactly.

Derek Smith:
Well, Ella, what about you?

Ella Carlile:
Mm-hmm.

Derek Smith:
What will you be doing as you head to South Korea? I think you're still finding out where in South Korea going to be, right?

Ella Carlile:
Yes. Yes.

Derek Smith:
But what's it going to look like when you're there?

Ella Carlile:
Yeah. So when I get there, I will just be an assistant to a local teacher. We will teach English in a local school. It'll be just a really good opportunity to meet the local community and just get assimilated and everything. Yeah.

Derek Smith:
Do you know what grades it'll be, or it could be any number of grades?

Ella Carlile:
Yeah. I'm not quite sure yet. They'll let us know in the next few months, I believe, once we start working on visas. They're talking to local schools, as well, trying to get all the information and sitting down with the teachers for placements for who would be the best fit for all those schools, but yeah. So mm-hmm.

Derek Smith:
Tell me a little bit about your journey with the Korean language.

Ella Carlile:
Yeah.

Derek Smith:
Yeah.

Ella Carlile:
Yeah. So I actually, I started formal education with that two years ago when I came to Baylor, and since then, I've taken it every single semester. It was a requirement for my degree, as well, but I had a lot of interest in it. I started learning it, think it was, it was a few years before I came to Baylor, but I had a lot of influence, whether it be in high school. We had over 50 languages spoken in my high school in Central Illinois, which is very special, but yeah. Then, when I taught ESL, I was very inspired by my students that I taught, as well. They were so eager to learn English, and so I would also try to learn some things that they would teach me, as well, in their languages.

Derek Smith:
Mm-hmm. Well, one of the questions I have for you both is, what are some of the things you hope to gain? What are some of the things you hope to impart? You already paint that picture a little bit, just interacting with the individuals that you did in Illinois and beyond.

Ella Carlile:
Yes.

Derek Smith:
But take us inside that a little further, if you would. What would you like to receive from this? What do you want to impart?

Ella Carlile:
Mm-hmm. I think a really good sense of community. The Fulbright community is very vast in its members. I think it's a very good opportunity to get to know alumni, what they're doing across the world as global ambassadors, and just getting to know the local community. Sharing your own knowledge, your own cultural knowledge, and your own lived experiences with people all over the globe is so good, and I think that's just something that I really want to take from that.

Derek Smith:
Mm-hmm. What about you, Alan?

Alan Koroluk:
I think that going back to Mexico and experiencing the culture firsthand and the food, I'm really excited for the food.

Derek Smith:
Yeah.

Alan Koroluk:
But yeah. It's essentially the community, and meeting other Fulbrighters from around the globe, and connecting with people, and learning new things, and learning new aspects. I think all that is just amazing to take in all at once.

Derek Smith:
Have either of you interacted with other Fulbright recipients in the past to talk to them to find out more?

Ella Carlile:
Yes. Actually, one of my good friends is also going to South Korea this January with me, as well.

Derek Smith:
Wonderful.

Ella Carlile:
And so it's a really good experience, but we've done a few Zoom calls with Fulbright [inaudible 00:15:01] already. And so all of the ETAs, we're starting to create a group chat right now to talk just about the next steps and what we can expect, as well.

Alan Koroluk:
Actually, I did a little LinkedIn outreach to this wonderful woman. Her name is Becca Bean, and essentially, she won the award that I won two years ago. We hopped on a little voice audio call, and she gave me sort of like a book. It was a PDF document of every single award winner since 2014 and their insights to the award. So I got to learn. I was reading that, and I got to learn about moving to Mexico, the different company placements. It was literally like a how-to guide for the award, which is awesome.

Derek Smith:
That's great, so yeah, some insight for sure. Now, I have a question for you both. I'm going to put you on the spot here. Y'all don't know each other before we brought you here together.

Ella Carlile:
No.

Alan Koroluk:
No.

Derek Smith:
Based on what you're hearing from the other, any questions that you have for each other? Are there any questions that, Ella, you have for Alan or Alan for Ella about the whole experience?

Ella Carlile:
Yeah. When did you start thinking about applying for Fulbright? What inspired you exactly?

Alan Koroluk:
That was a very, very good question.

Ella Carlile:
It's very vague, but ...

Alan Koroluk:
I think it was after I studied abroad. I studied abroad. I did the business European seminar with Professor Keith Richards, and I knew that I wanted to have a global education. I think that's when I really wanted to expand my horizons. And so I was looking for programs where I could do that and pursue my interest in business, and that's when I found the Fulbright.

Ella Carlile:
Yeah.

Alan Koroluk:
Yeah. How about you? How about you?

Ella Carlile:
I think for me, it was ... Well, I got an email from Dr. Benyousky, and it was just you asking for interest for Fulbright. I was like, "This seems like a really great opportunity." I was already planning to teach English abroad after college, but it just fit really well with my experience teaching ESL as a volunteer in years past, and yeah. I was like, "Why not?" The application process was really long but incredibly worth it.

Derek Smith:
Well, to that end, great questions for each other. I appreciate y'all doing that.

Ella Carlile:
Thanks.

Derek Smith:
The application process is a challenge, and I know it's something ... You mentioned Dr. Benyousky. I know Andy Hogue and others, Dr. Andy Hogue are big in kind of shepherding students through these opportunities. Ella, I'll start with you. Take us through, how did Baylor help you through the process?

Ella Carlile:
Yeah. They were an incredible help. I began the application process pretty much when it began. I believe it was in March. Right? I think it was March.

Alan Koroluk:
I think so. Yeah. March.

Ella Carlile:
And yeah. Just immediately jumped into it, put all my information into it, and dove headfirst. I started writing the essays. There's a few essays. There's an abstract, too, and the essays, I think I went through eight drafts. They provided an essay ... I think it was a writing consultant for us, too. And so the entire summer, last summer, I just was just writing essays nonstop, and they just helped me perfect it. They really just supported me in my dream.

Derek Smith:
Similar story, Alan?

Alan Koroluk:
Similar story. I applied a little bit later on. I started my application in October, but Baylor has been a fantastic help. Like Ella said, they hooked us up with a writing consulting or writing coach. They did weekly checkups. We got put on a special Canvas page to make sure we're meeting each deadlines. I think Baylor does a really excellent job in assuring that the students that actually want to do the event or want to do the program are students who were willing to commit.

Ella Carlile:
Yes.

Alan Koroluk:
I think we had to apply to apply, if that makes sense. We had had meetings before, and it was like, "Why do you want to do this? Where do you want to go? Is it something really credible to you?" The students that they let fulfill the application are students who are really passionate, who really want to put in the work and effort. I think Baylor does a really good job in filtering those students that really want to do the program, and not only filtering them, but also pushing them to the best of their ability. I think that we got emails almost every week about any updates.

Ella Carlile:
Yes. Yeah.

Alan Koroluk:
They really cared about our mental health, too, as well. I mean, they really try to make it a really interactive experience and that we were okay with the application. For me, it took six months. For you, it was eight months, I guess, since you started earlier.

Ella Carlile:
Yeah. Eight months. Yeah.

Derek Smith:
It's a journey.

Alan Koroluk:
But it's a journey.

Ella Carlile:
It was a journey.

Alan Koroluk:
Definitely a journey.

Derek Smith:
Well, we're proud of the fact that Baylor is a top Fulbright-producing institution, number 10 in the nation, number one in Texas. There's a lot of other schools that have more students than we do, a bigger population to pull from.

Ella Carlile:
Oh. Yeah.

Derek Smith:
But we're up there, and that's pretty cool. You painted part of that picture, but I'll just ask you. Ella, start with you. Why do you think Baylor does so well at this? Why do you think Baylor's students ... Let's even go in. Why do you think Baylor students are such a good fit for this?

Ella Carlile:
Well, I mean, Baylor, I think it was in 2024 they added to their mission statement, "Pro Mundo." And so for the world is their goal. I think Baylor students do such a great job with Fulbright, because, I mean, as Alan said, they commit, and they put in the hard work. I think Baylor students have a very good reputation with just having that hardworking spirit, and when they put their mind to it, that they can accomplish anything. I think, also, Baylor students do a great job in serving their community, as well. That's something that Baylor also stresses a lot.

Alan Koroluk:
You said that beautifully, by the way. But I guess to add on, I think that also Baylor ... Baylor is climbing up the ranks, I think. I think the name Baylor University is really helping the students get these tough positions, as well. I think that it's just the type of students that Baylor University attracts. I mean, I walk around campus. I talk to my colleagues at clubs and in classes, and it seems like everybody wants to do something. Everybody wants to be somebody, and I think that Baylor only supplements that even more. So I think that's why we're a top Fulbright producer.

Ella Carlile:
I think students have a very big passion in their heart. I just notice that with a lot of students around campus and the people I interact with.

Alan Koroluk:
I agree. Mm-hmm.

Ella Carlile:
Yeah.

Derek Smith:
Well, you all embody that. Yo both embody that really well, and I appreciate you sharing that and letting us get a picture of what you bring to this program here and what you bring to Baylor. Well, Alan and Ella, as we wind down, you've done such a great job describing what it is you're going to be doing. Now, you've got a few months until you actually both leave, Alan this fall and then Ella in the winter of 2027, beginning of 2027. What are you most excited about as you ... What are you most anticipating as you wait over these next few months?

Ella Carlile:
Yeah. I think just being able to ... It's just gathering that excitement of, "Wow. I'm actually going overseas, and I'm actually doing this with such wonderful people all over the world." I think this might be really niche, but I'm also just really excited to go to local art galleries, and just engage in people's passions overseas, as well, and just see what people are involved in, art galleries, and just the local schools, and just getting to know the teachers and all of that. Yeah.

Derek Smith:
Well, art galleries are great. You can have fun while you're over there.

Ella Carlile:
Yeah. Oh yeah.

Derek Smith:
Art galleries.

Ella Carlile:
Oh yeah.

Derek Smith:
Food. You both have some things you're excited to check out.

Ella Carlile:
Food. Food. Yeah.

Alan Koroluk:
Yeah. For me, I cannot wait to live in Mexico City. I'm a really big city guy, and Mexico City is, I think is a little different than Waco. Right?

Ella Carlile:
Oh yeah.

Alan Koroluk:
So definitely living in the city is something I'm really, really excited for.

Derek Smith:
Well, we're excited to see what's ahead for you both, and appreciate you jumping on the program and sharing.

Ella Carlile:
Thanks.

Derek Smith:
Ella and Alan, really appreciate your time. Best of luck. Again, congratulations on the award.

Alan Koroluk:
Thank you.

Ella Carlile:
Thank you.

Derek Smith:
Congrats on graduation, and we'll be excited to hear how things go for you in the years ahead.

Ella Carlile:
Thank you so much.

Alan Koroluk:
Thank you very much.

Derek Smith:
Really appreciate it. Ella Carlile and Alan Koroluk, our guests today on Baylor Connections. I'm Derek Smith. A reminder, you can find this and other programs online at baylor.edu/connections. You can subscribe on iTunes, and you can subscribe to the video portion of the program on the Baylor University YouTube channel. I'm Derek Smith. Thanks so much for joining us today on Baylor Connections.