Flores found out he had been selected for the award when he received an email while in class. He says his reaction was immediate excitement and gratitude.

“I had to call and thank everyone who had helped me through the process. I am thrilled and relieved, as it gives me a solid plan for what I will do in the next year,” he said. “I cannot wait to begin learning Portuguese and to take this big leap.”

The triple major in history, political science and Spanish is a native of Addison, Illinois, and a graduate of Glenbard East High School. He will graduate from Illinois College in May, and says he could never have imagined the wide range of experiences he would gain during his college career that led to him being awarded the prestigious Fulbright.

“Illinois College has taught me that the best experiences happen when you take risks and move beyond your comfort zone. I am ready for this adventure and extremely excited,” said Flores.

In late April, during the Illinois College Celebration of Excellence, Flores was also honored among the best and the brightest undergraduates in the nation with the announcement he will be inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, the top academic honor society to recognize liberal arts scholars, during commencement weekend in May.

During his Illinois College career, Flores has been heavily involved in IC’s Leadership Program, completed multiple student-faculty research projects working with IC faculty and presented his research at national conferences throughout the country. He was the 2017 recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. Peacemaker Award and named IC’s Lincoln Laureate by the Lincoln Academy of Illinois. He has completed numerous internships, including a summer position with the Office of U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth in Washington D.C., and with the Institute for Justice and Human Rights in Buenos Aires, Argentina, while studying abroad.

Alumni of the selective Fulbright program include accomplished ambassadors, members of Congress, judges, heads of corporations, university presidents, journalists, artists, professors and teachers. Flores is the first Fulbright Scholar named from IC since Gabrielle Esparza ’16 was named a recipient in 2016 and awarded the opportunity to teach the English language in Argentina.

“I really want to pursue a career in international relations. My experiences have shaped my decisions, made my future more tangible and my goals more feasible,” said Flores. “The support I have received on campus has propelled me to apply to various opportunities, like the Fulbright, that I may not have considered before. I look forward to continuing to seek these exciting opportunities.”