Brookwood alumnus receives Fulbright Grant

THOMASVILLE --  Brookwood School alumnus Christopher Watt ‘17 has received a Fulbright Student Research Grant. The prestigious award allows individuals to design and conduct research projects around the world.

“I am overjoyed to receive a Fulbright Grant,” Watt shared. “It was my dream before coming to Washington and Lee to do a Fulbright or related fellowship after graduation. I am immensely grateful.”

Watt graduated from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va., this spring with a degree in economics and minors in poverty studies and environmental studies. These disciplines shaped his study over the course of four years, where he focused on learning how conservation can be used as a means of economic development and poverty alleviation. While enrolled, he was involved in the Outing Club as well as a peer counselor. He was a member of Reformed University Fellowship and Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He enjoyed spending time outdoors, fly fishing in local streams, and trail running on the Appalachian Trail. 

Watt attributes aspects of his success in college and beyond to his time at Brookwood. “My time at Brookwood certainly had a major impact on my time at Washington and Lee and prepared me to pursue my goals after graduation. I felt ready to take on a rigorous academic load and excited to engage with professors in the process of building close relationships similar to those I shared with my teachers in high school. Furthermore, I built the confidence to engage boldly with new communities and experiences.” 

He plans to begin his Fulbright grant in October. He will be in Vanuatu, an island nation in the South Pacific, for about 10 months. There, he will conduct research on the importance of small-scale fishing for livelihood, culture, and well-being. He will spend time in the fishing communities asking individuals about their practice of fishing and the various ways it impacts their lives.

“I hope the experience will inform my future career goals,” Watt said of his plans after Fulbright. “I anticipate that I will continue seeking opportunities at the intersection of conservation and sustainable development. My hope is to return to school to get a master’s degree in environmental studies and economics or fisheries management a few years down the road.”