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Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
The U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship
Board are pleased to announce Fulbright awards to U.S. students for 2003-2004.
Under this program, 1,125 American students have been offered grants to
study and conduct research in 140 countries throughout the world beginning
this fall.
The Fulbright Program, established in 1946, is sponsored by the U.S.
Department of State. Patricia S. Harrison, Assistant Secretary of State
for Educational and Cultural Affairs, noted that "nearly 100,000
Americans who have held Fulbright grants have been enriched by the knowledge,
awareness and friendships they acquire while living and studying abroad.
These Fulbrighters contribute greatly to mutual understanding among people
of different political and cultural backgrounds. Many have gone on to
play influential leadership roles in virtually all fields.
This years U.S. Fulbright students were selected from among more
than 5,000 recommended applicants. The awardees come from all 50 U.S.
states, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. They are
drawn from a diverse cross-section of American higher education, with
more than 250 U.S. institutions represented. The majority are graduating
seniors, but the group also includes candidates for graduate degrees as
well as developing professionals and artists. Most will spend a full academic
year in a host country overseas.
Funding for the Fulbright Program is provided through annual appropriations
by the U.S. Congress, significant contributions by partner governments,
and generous cost-sharing by colleges and universities in the U.S. and
overseas. The presidentially-appointed 12-member J. William Fulbright
Foreign Scholarship Board, chaired by Caroline A. Matano Yang, oversees
the Fulbright Program and is responsible for approving all grantees. The
Fulbright U.S. Student Program is administered by the New York-based Institute
of International Education, under an agreement with the Department of
State.
The Fulbright Program also awards grants to American teachers and faculty
to do research, lecture and teach overseas. In addition, some 2,200 foreign
Fulbright students and scholars come to the United States annually to
study, carry out research and lecture at U.S. universities, colleges and
secondary schools.
For a listing of recipients visit exchanges.state.gov/education/fulbright/2004recipients.htm
CONTACT:
Nicole Deaner,
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
(202) 203-7613; ndeaner@pd.state.gov
[End]
Released on June 19, 2003
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