Fulbright Program

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The Fulbright Program aka Fulbright-Hays Program ^[1] is a program of educational grants (Fulbright Fellowships and Fulbright Scholarships), founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright, and sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State, governments in other countries, and the private sector. The program was established to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries through the exchange of persons, knowledge, and skills.

The program was created through the efforts of Arkansas Senator J. William Fulbright, who promulgated its passage through the US Senate in 1946. It is considered one of the most prestigious award programs and it operates in 144 countries. More Fulbright alumni have won Nobel Prizes than those of any other academic program, including two in 2002.

The Fulbright Program provides funds for students, scholars, and professionals to undertake graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and teaching in elementary and secondary schools abroad. The initial reach of this program had been primarily European countries, and now the program operates worldwide.

The program is administered by 51 binational Fulbright commissions, US Embassies, and cooperating organizations.

Its first participants went overseas in 1948, funded by war reparations and foreign loan repayments to the United States. Today, it is funded by Congressional appropriations and funding provided by partner governments. The program also receives important in-kind and financial support from academic institutions, foundations, and the private sector.

In the 60 years since it was created, more than 250,000 individuals have received Fulbright grants - more than 100,000 Americans and more than 150,000 citizens of other countries. These individuals have established more than 150 national or sub-national alumni organizations.

Fulbright grants are administered by several organizations, including the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Education, the Institute for International Education and the Council for International Exchange of Scholars.

1 Fulbright Commission
2 Fulbright Prize
3 Fulbright alumni
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Fulbright Commission

A Fulbright Commission is a foundation established abroad to co-sponsor and administer Fulbright grants locally. Unlike countries where Fulbright grants are paid by the U.S. Department of State, Commissions pay some or all of the scholarships.

[edit] Fulbright Prize

The J. William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding established in 1993 is awarded by the Fulbright Association to recognize individuals who have made extraordinary contributions toward bringing peoples, cultures, or nations to greater understanding of others. Fulbright Prize laureates include:

[edit] Fulbright alumni

Fulbright alumni around the world have recognized the importance of continued involvement and action in the name of increasing mutual understanding among the people of the U.S. and the people of the world. Today, there are organized Fulbright alumni associations in 71 countries around the world. A list of these organizations can be found online at [1]. In the U.S., the Fulbright Association ([2])has more than 9,000 members and works in a number of ways to support and further the Fulbright Program. The Fulbright Program has 36 Nobel Prize Winners among its alumni, more than any other scholarship program of its kind.

Notable alum include ([3])-- Arlene Alda, children’s book author and photographer; Barbara Knowles Debs, former president of Manhattanville College and the New York Historical Society; Richard A. Debs, founding president of Morgan Stanley International; Jean-Pierre Garnier, CEO of GlaxoSmithKline; Thomas R. Pickering, former under secretary of state for political affairs; Ruth J. Simmons, president of Brown University; Rita E. Hauser, president of the Hauser Foundation; John Mendelsohn, president of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center; Hilda Ochoa-Brillembourg, president and CEO of Strategic Investment Group; Craig R. Barrett, chairman of Intel Corporation; John Hope Franklin, James B. Duke professor emeritus of history at Duke University and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom; Shirley Strum Kenny, president of Stony Brook University.