Liberal Arts graduate student Carmina Martinez has received the Fulbright Fellowship, which will allow her to conduct research in Yucatan, Mexico in the comparative studies of the 2012 Mayan end-date movement, both ancient and modern.
The Fulbright Fellowship, sponsored by the US Department of State, is awarded to students who intend to take their research, job or studies abroad.
“Knowing that my research would eventually require traveling abroad, I began to inquire about several grant options and attended a Fulbright Information Session,” Martinez said.
After contacting several professors and Fulbright Program Advisor Veronique Tran, Martinez said she applied for the fellowship, hoping to take her career international.
“The funny thing is that I was out all day and did not take my phone with me so I did not have access to email. When I arrived in late afternoon and accessed the internet and saw Dr. Tran’s emails titled ‘Congratulations!’, I jumped up and grabbed my husband’s hand before opening it. I was delighted and overwhelmed with joy,” Martinez said.
Martinez will compare the Mayan and New Age’s observation and expectation of the possible global event predicted Dec. 21 and interview Mayan natives regarding their stance on this upcoming date.
“The Yucatan is a beautiful place, other than the heat I cannot complain,” Martinez said.
“My ultimate and most sincere goal is to publish my research and contribute not only to academic studies of millenarian movements, but most importantly, capture the voice of local Maya people during this global event. We know the world’s eyes are focused on the Mayan calendar, but the majority tend to overlook today’s Maya people.”
