Despite carbon monoxide poisoning NWU grad stays wins Fulbright
Warning: The following may make you feel like a complete underachiever.
Nicole Francavilla, who graduates from Nebraska Wesleyan University today, recently found out she’d been named a Fulbright Scholar, one of the first ever to win the prestigious award in her chosen field of religion.
The Fulbright application process took up most of the fall semester and included 20 drafts each of two personal essays.
That semester, the Omaha native also applied to four graduate schools and was accepted by all four, including Harvard.
She also took 23 credit hours when most students settle for 12 to 15.
She also put on a senior vocal recital to cap her religion-music double major.
The kicker? She also suffered carbon monoxide poisoning so severe doctors said she should have died.
But taking some time off — or, for that matter, turning in a single assignment late — never crossed Francavilla’s mind.
She offers a modest explanation: “I really wanted it.”
Of course, mortal readers may be feeling a bit lazy right about now, but don’t say we didn’t warn you.
Francavilla’s health problems began less than two weeks into her senior year. She’d wake up with a headache, feeling nauseous and lightheaded.
Then she’d leave her off-campus apartment and spend the entire day at Wesleyan, going to class, studying, meeting with faculty and working on graduate school and Fulbright applications in a basement coffee shop in the school’s student center.
She’d feel fine as she headed back to her apartment at night.
But the next day, she’d wake up again feeling sick.
At first, Francavilla attributed her symptoms to stress.
But they got worse. Finally, passing Wesleyan’s minister, the Rev. Pauletta Lehn, on campus one day, Francavilla started to greet her, then passed out in Lehn’s arms.
Lehn took her to the emergency room, where tests revealed carbon monoxide poisoning.
People exposed to the levels of carbon monoxide she was on a nightly basis don’t normally live to tell the tale, Francavilla’s doctor told her.
“It was surreal,” she remembers.
She was back in class the next day. Her Fulbright package was due, after all.
But she readily admits her recovery was long and tough. Already low on sleep, she felt fatigued constantly, joking that the elderly often would pass her on campus.
Delivering class presentations, she’d lose her breath easily and wouldn’t be able to stand for long periods of time.
She lost her appetite and dropped weight. Exercise was out of the question.
Even as she planned her senior recital, she had to take a month-long break from singing because her lungs couldn’t handle the effort.
She remembers endless nights spent doing homework in bed, knowing she’d have to get up in a few hours and do it all over again.
“I’d be comatose at the end of the day,” she says. “I would take 10-minute naps just to get going.”
Deep down, she considered giving up her quest for the Fulbright.
But, she says, the effort Wesleyan faculty put into helping her apply for the award pushed her forward.
Rita Lester, an associate professor of religion and chairwoman of religion and philosophy, helped cultivate Francavilla’s interest in the field of religion during her junior year.
When Francavilla first told Lester she might pursue the Fulbright, Lester was on the phone almost immediately, tracking down contacts and application information.
Later, when Francavilla felt so weak she could barely stand, it was Lester who took her to the grocery store for Gatorade.
“I knew nobody would be disappointed if I dropped the Fulbright,” Francavilla says. “But the faculty had put in so much work... They were the reasons I kept going.”
Three weeks ago, a letter from the Fulbright Program arrived in Francavilla’s campus mailbox.
“We are pleased to inform you...” it began.
She burst into tears. Then she rushed to Lester’s classroom and stood outside, waving gleefully.
For Lester, it was a gratifying moment.
“It makes you feel like you have an impact,” she says. “You teach for years and every once in awhile, you get an exceptional student.
“When I find a student who’s eager now, not in five years or 10 years, it’s very rewarding and encouraging to me in a professional way.”
Today, Francavilla becomes the first in her immediate family to finish college. Later this year, she’ll use her Fulbright to study religious diversity in Toronto, which the United Nations calls the most religiously diverse city in the world.
Upon her return next year, she’ll head to Harvard.
Then, Ph.D. in hand, she hopes to become a professor of religion, specializing in Islam and gender issues.
She may have fully recovered from her illness, but no one could blame Francavilla for still feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all.
“I know I’m graduating,” she says. “It just hasn’t hit me yet.”
Reach Melissa Lee at 473-2682 or mlee@journalstar.com.
Nicole Francavilla, who graduates from Nebraska Wesleyan University today, recently found out she’d been named a Fulbright Scholar, one of the first ever to win the prestigious award in her chosen field of religion.
The Fulbright application process took up most of the fall semester and included 20 drafts each of two personal essays.
That semester, the Omaha native also applied to four graduate schools and was accepted by all four, including Harvard.
She also took 23 credit hours when most students settle for 12 to 15.
She also put on a senior vocal recital to cap her religion-music double major.
The kicker? She also suffered carbon monoxide poisoning so severe doctors said she should have died.
But taking some time off — or, for that matter, turning in a single assignment late — never crossed Francavilla’s mind.
She offers a modest explanation: “I really wanted it.”
Of course, mortal readers may be feeling a bit lazy right about now, but don’t say we didn’t warn you.
Francavilla’s health problems began less than two weeks into her senior year. She’d wake up with a headache, feeling nauseous and lightheaded.
Then she’d leave her off-campus apartment and spend the entire day at Wesleyan, going to class, studying, meeting with faculty and working on graduate school and Fulbright applications in a basement coffee shop in the school’s student center.
She’d feel fine as she headed back to her apartment at night.
But the next day, she’d wake up again feeling sick.
At first, Francavilla attributed her symptoms to stress.
But they got worse. Finally, passing Wesleyan’s minister, the Rev. Pauletta Lehn, on campus one day, Francavilla started to greet her, then passed out in Lehn’s arms.
Lehn took her to the emergency room, where tests revealed carbon monoxide poisoning.
People exposed to the levels of carbon monoxide she was on a nightly basis don’t normally live to tell the tale, Francavilla’s doctor told her.
“It was surreal,” she remembers.
She was back in class the next day. Her Fulbright package was due, after all.
But she readily admits her recovery was long and tough. Already low on sleep, she felt fatigued constantly, joking that the elderly often would pass her on campus.
Delivering class presentations, she’d lose her breath easily and wouldn’t be able to stand for long periods of time.
She lost her appetite and dropped weight. Exercise was out of the question.
Even as she planned her senior recital, she had to take a month-long break from singing because her lungs couldn’t handle the effort.
She remembers endless nights spent doing homework in bed, knowing she’d have to get up in a few hours and do it all over again.
“I’d be comatose at the end of the day,” she says. “I would take 10-minute naps just to get going.”
Deep down, she considered giving up her quest for the Fulbright.
But, she says, the effort Wesleyan faculty put into helping her apply for the award pushed her forward.
Rita Lester, an associate professor of religion and chairwoman of religion and philosophy, helped cultivate Francavilla’s interest in the field of religion during her junior year.
When Francavilla first told Lester she might pursue the Fulbright, Lester was on the phone almost immediately, tracking down contacts and application information.
Later, when Francavilla felt so weak she could barely stand, it was Lester who took her to the grocery store for Gatorade.
“I knew nobody would be disappointed if I dropped the Fulbright,” Francavilla says. “But the faculty had put in so much work... They were the reasons I kept going.”
Three weeks ago, a letter from the Fulbright Program arrived in Francavilla’s campus mailbox.
“We are pleased to inform you...” it began.
She burst into tears. Then she rushed to Lester’s classroom and stood outside, waving gleefully.
For Lester, it was a gratifying moment.
“It makes you feel like you have an impact,” she says. “You teach for years and every once in awhile, you get an exceptional student.
“When I find a student who’s eager now, not in five years or 10 years, it’s very rewarding and encouraging to me in a professional way.”
Today, Francavilla becomes the first in her immediate family to finish college. Later this year, she’ll use her Fulbright to study religious diversity in Toronto, which the United Nations calls the most religiously diverse city in the world.
Upon her return next year, she’ll head to Harvard.
Then, Ph.D. in hand, she hopes to become a professor of religion, specializing in Islam and gender issues.
She may have fully recovered from her illness, but no one could blame Francavilla for still feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all.
“I know I’m graduating,” she says. “It just hasn’t hit me yet.”
Reach Melissa Lee at 473-2682 or mlee@journalstar.com.
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