Sophia Chadima ’26 receives Fulbright award

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program has selected 2026 Luther College graduate Sophia Chadima of Swisher, Iowa, to be an English teaching assistant (ETA) in the Czech Republic for the 2026-27 academic year. Close to 2,000 recent college graduates, graduate students and early career professionals nationwide receive Fulbright awards to teach and study abroad each year.

Sophia Chadima

“I look forward to experiencing the Czech lifestyle and culture through the unique opportunities provided to me through this award,” Chadima said.

Chadima graduated from Luther with a major in environmental policy and a minor in Spanish. She applied to be a teaching assistant in the Czech Republic because of her deep connection to the country.

“My dad’s family is 100 percent Czech. Much of my childhood holidays consisted of family gatherings at my grandparents’ house, making kolaches and rohlíky, traditional Czech pastries and breads,” Chadima said.

In 2023, Chadima’s grandmother organized and led a family genealogy tour in the Czech Republic. This experience inspired Chadima to apply for a Fulbright award.

“During this time, we explored towns and visited houses that shared the same address as my distant ancestors,” she said. “I am excited to return to this beautiful country for a longer period, and to create meaningful connections with both the students and the community.”

During her time at Luther, Chadima was involved with a variety of activities and organizations. She was a member of the Collegiate Chorale for three years and worked on campus at the Center for Sustainable Communities for four years. In May 2024 and May 2025, she was a student coordinator for the Move Out Mindfully initiative, which encourages Luther students to donate items from their dorm rooms instead of throwing them away at the end of the spring semester.

Chadima was a summer student researcher working on the Regenerating Soil and Community project in 2024 and 2025.

Sophia Chadima and her family members take a photo in a park near the village of Odlochovice in the Czech Republic.

“I worked with professors Rachel Brummel, Laura Peterson, Jodi Enos-Berlage and Gwen Strand, along with other students, to help share soil and agriculture education with women landowners. This interdisciplinary project combines in-field soil sampling, lab tests, and social science research techniques, such as conducting and analyzing interviews, into one cohesive project,” she said.

In 2024, Chadima was one of three students who helped to create the Luther Bike Council. The council works to educate students on campus about bike safety and organizes group rides around Decorah.

While studying at Luther, Chadima took the opportunity to study away through three different January term courses. She also studied in Malta for a semester.

“Traveling through Luther opened my eyes to different cultures and worldviews. It also helped inspire me and gave me the confidence to apply for the Fulbright ETA program,” she said. “I highly encourage students to travel during their time at Luther.”

After her year in the Czech Republic, Chadima plans to pursue a master’s degree in environmental studies, soil science or environmental policy.

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