Taking Service and Leadership Abroad
Payton Hodson ’22 and Momin Mirza ’22, ’24 were both members of the same cohort at Christ College — the Honors College — as undergraduates at Valparaiso University. During their time in the program, they participated in a study abroad trip to Costa Rica. Now, both Payton and Momin have been accepted into the Fulbright Scholars program — a highly selective opportunity that sends newly graduated college students to contribute their skills toward finding solutions to shared international concerns. They are heading to Ecuador and the Canary Islands, respectively, marking the next chapter in lives dedicated to service and leadership.
A double major in psychology and Spanish with a minor in humanities, Payton knew during her college search that she wanted a school where she could pursue more than just academics. When she discovered Valpo, she knew she had found something special.
“I eventually ended up meeting with the golf coach at Valpo and just fell in love with the school on my first visit,” Payton says. “Academics and athletics have always been my driving factors, so being able to play Division I golf and have multiple majors wasn’t something that would have been possible at a lot of other schools.”
In addition to her double major and golf, Payton was a member of three honor societies: Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Delta Pi, and Psi Chi. She recently completed a two-year post-undergraduate Orr Fellowship in Indianapolis, where she was employed at CREA LLC.
Having spent much of his childhood moving across the country, Momin knew, upon graduating high school in South Bend, that he wanted to stay in the region for college. Valparaiso University met his criteria for size, its liberal arts values, and — as a bonus — it was where his parents had met. Momin initially pursued an undergraduate degree in English, switched to geography for a summer, and eventually found his passion in environmental science.
After graduating with his bachelor’s degree in 2022, Momin returned to his academic roots, earning a master’s degree in English with a focus on communication in 2024. During that time, he was involved in numerous organizations, including the Rifai Institute, which supports students of underrepresented faiths on campus and encourages interfaith dialogue.
Applying for the Fulbright was a long process filled with paperwork, essay writing, and anxious waiting, but for Payton and Momin, the end result was well worth the effort.
“Oh, I was screaming. I was actually on vacation in Orlando when I got the email. I was so thrilled,” Payton says.
“The Canary Islands have a rich cultural history, being part of Spain but also so close to Morocco,” Momin says. “First, I want to learn as much as I can about that culture. But mostly, I’m just looking forward to being in the community and spending time there.”
As Fulbright scholars, Payton and Momin will be teaching English as a second language in their respective countries. During her Orr Fellowship, Payton volunteered as a bilingual tutor for adult learners in English as a Second Language Conversation Circles, and her Fulbright experience will expand on her teaching background.
“This is a great opportunity to be exposed directly to teaching, which I’ve really enjoyed recently,” Payton says. “I’m hoping this continues to give me clarity in terms of my future career.”
A large part of Momin’s focus is on integrating into his community and serving those around him — something he experienced firsthand in Valparaiso.
“I did a program with Compass International Family Center during their Tuesday night sessions. I was teaching middle schoolers how to fix bikes,” Momin says. “If I can join something like that in the islands, I’d love to see where I can be of assistance to the needs of the community.”
Payton and Momin are just two of 50 Fulbright Scholars to come out of Valparaiso University in the past 20 years. Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected based on academic and professional achievement, as well as a record of service and leadership in their respective fields. Learn more about past Valpo Fulbright Scholars here.
