MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University Honors student Gabriel Woodcock has been selected for the prestigious Fulbright U.S.-UK Commission Summer Institute program and will study filmmaking this summer at Lancaster University.

Woodcock, an audio production major in MTSU’s Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment, was selected by the U.S.-UK Fulbright Commission and Lancaster University to participate in the Fulbright Lancaster University Summer Institute 2026.

The highly competitive program brings together students from across the United States for an immersive academic and cultural experience in the United Kingdom.

“He was chosen for this program based on our belief that he will not only gain a great deal from this experience, but equally that he is an individual who has much to offer to the other participants,” Katharina Becker, senior program manager for Summer Institutes, wrote in Woodcock’s selection letter.

Becker continued, “We hope he will view this as an unparalleled opportunity to not only learn and develop new skills, but equally to engage, participate and share his experiences with others.”

Woodcock said his lifelong interest in the United Kingdom and passion for storytelling motivated him to apply for the program.

“Ever since I was little, I wanted to visit the United Kingdom, specifically England,” Woodcock said. “Many of the books I cherish and movies I love were either written or based in the UK. It is the source of much of my inspiration when it comes to creating art, music and films.”

Woodcock said he specifically chose Lancaster University’s Summer Institute because of its emphasis on filmmaking.

“Creating videos has been a big passion of mine for a very long time,” he said. “I love the ability to convey a story through motion picture, and when I first saw that there was an opportunity to study filmmaking in the place that has inspired me for years, I knew I had to apply.”

Being selected for the internationally recognized Fulbright program carries both excitement and responsibility, Woodcock said.

“It is a great honor to have been chosen for a program so prestigious as Fulbright,” he said. “Not only am I ecstatic for the opportunity, but it also gives me a sense of determination. I was chosen to help represent the United States when I am visiting the United Kingdom this summer, and I should do my best to work hard and uphold Fulbright’s vision and values during my trip.”

Woodcock said the experience aligns closely with his long-term goals as a storyteller and filmmaker.

“With whatever professions I decide to pursue in my life, my decision will usually wrap around one principle: I love to tell stories,” he said. “With this Fulbright opportunity, it will help me learn to convey the stories in my imagination better than ever before.”

He also encouraged other students interested in Fulbright opportunities to apply, even if they are uncertain about their chances.

“If there is anyone who wants to apply for a Fulbright scholarship but feels hesitant or unsure, I encourage you to try anyway,” Woodcock said. “I certainly was not expecting to win at first because of how competitive the scholarship is. But I applied anyway and gave it my best shot.”

For more information about scholarship opportunities abroad, visit MTSU’s Undergraduate Fellowships Office at mtsu.edu/honors/ufo.

For more information about the programs offered in the Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment, visit https://sbcme.mtsu.edu/.

— Robin E. Lee ([email protected])