Schuylerville High School Class of 2021 graduate, Patrick McGloine, has been selected as one of two recent Saint Michael’s College alumni to receive a prestigious Fulbright fellowship for the coming year. Fulbright scholarships are highly competitive international grants given to students, scholars, professors and young professionals to study, research or teach overseas. McGloine will begin his Fulbright fellowship in Vietnam this fall, continuing his commitment to environmental sustainability and international collaboration. Reflecting on his time at Schuylerville, McGloine credits several teachers with shaping his academic curiosity and love for learning.
“Genuine connections with teachers like Mr. Burleigh and Señora Wilson helped me become a better critical thinker and stay invested in class,” said McGloine. “In particular, Mr. Burleigh made physics fun and interesting, which definitely contributed to my eventual physics minor. This ability to connect with mentors was invaluable at St. Mike’s as I found professors who cared for and advocated for me throughout the application process.”
McGloine also said that his involvement in extracurricular activities at Schuylerville played a key role in his personal growth.
“Extracurriculars like the environmental club and cross country were great outlets for my interests,” he said. “I continued both in college, which helped me channel my passion for the environment into real-world experiences.”
The Fulbright Program—established in 1946 to promote mutual understanding between the United States and other nations—awards approximately 8,000 grants annually to scholars, students, and professionals in more than 160 countries. Among its distinguished alumni are Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, MacArthur Fellows, and heads of state.
McGloine, a Schuylerville High School’s Class of 2021 Top Graduate, went on to graduate summa cum laude from Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science with minors in Physics and Mathematics. While at Saint Michael’s College, McGloine immersed himself in academic, athletic, and leadership experiences that strengthened his global perspective and commitment to sustainability. In summer 2024, he was selected for the Global Citizenship International Internship Program, completing an internship with Vietnam’s Institute for Circular Economy Development, where he researched agricultural sustainability and macro plastic transport. His upcoming Fulbright research will build on this work by studying how rainfall influences the movement of macro plastics.