Alyssa Botelho Receives Fulbright U.S. Student Award

By Beth David, Editor

Alyssa Botelho, an alumna of the University of Rhode Island and a historical fiction filmmaker from Southeastern New England, has been awarded a Fulbright U.S. Student Program grant to conduct research in the Azores, Portugal, for the 2025–2026 academic year. Her project, The Last Frontier: War, Whales, and American-Azorean Family Bonds in WWI, will be developed in collabora­tion with Azorean institutions in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel. 

Through archival research, inter­views with local historians, and cultural immersion, Botelho will develop a feature-length screenplay spotlighting the overlooked World War I alliance between Portugal and the United States. 

Set in 1918, as global whaling declines, a seasoned Azorean whaler prepares for his final voyage, clashing with his son who returns with the U.S. Navy to fight German submarines — forcing both to confront shifting tides of family, tradition, and war. Research will be conducted at the Regional Military Museum of the Azores and the Museu Carlos Machado, highlighting the islands’ strategic role in global history and the enduring cultural ties between the U.S. and Portugal. 

This work builds on Botelho’s experience as an award-winning filmmaker. Her most recent short film, Sweet Freedom, a pre-Civil War drama supported by various cultural institu­tions, exemplifies her commitment to blending historical research with compelling storytelling. 

As the Tourism Director for the Town of Fairhaven, Massachusetts, Botelho has received approval from her Select Board to continue part-time work remotely during her Fulbright year. While in São Miguel, she will also actively develop Fairhaven’s Sister City relationship with Lagoa, strengthening civic and cultural ties between the two Atlantic communities. 

“The Fulbright is more than a research opportunity — it’s a chance to connect with my Azorean roots, deepen international relationships, and bring a powerful story to life,” said Botelho. “It’s an incredible honor to receive this support as a writer, and the opportunity of a lifetime to represent Fairhaven, the University of Rhode Island, and the U.S. on a global stage.” 

On Facebook, Ms. Botelho wrote a little about her excitement and apprehension, musing, “This could change my life.”

“Moments before opening the letter, I braced myself for rejection. I ran through every possibility. Every plan B,” wrote Ms. Botelho. “Sean held my hand, ‘What will this mean if it’s a yes?’”

“It would mean a new world opens.

“It would mean my work as a creative is seen.

“It would mean this could be my break.

“It would mean I make my parents proud.

“My ancestors proud.

“It would mean the adventure of a lifetime.

“Everything would change.

“And then, I opened the letter.

Ms. Botelho said she was honored to be name a Fulbright Scholar. And she thanked many of the people who helped her along the way.

“And to my village — my Fair­havenites, my SouthCoast people, my mentors, my friends, my love, my family: No ‘overnight success’ blooms alone. This is only the beginning.”

The Town of Fairhaven is allowing Ms. Botelho to work remotely part time while she is the Azores. 

Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has supported over 400,000 participants across more than 160 countries. It is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program, with alumni including 62 Nobel Laureates, 95 Pulitzer Prize winners, 82 MacArthur Fellows, and thou­sands of leaders across the pri­vate, public and nonprofit sectors. 

The Fulbright Program is ad­ministered by the U.S. Department of State, with support from part­ner governments and host institutions worldwide. To learn more, visit https://us.fulbrightonline.org. 

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