University of Richmond is One of Nation's Top Producers of Students Earning Fulbright Awards
November 1, 2004
The University of Richmond is included among the nation's top producers of Fulbright Awards for Students for 2004-05, according to the Fulbright Program.
The university, with three grant recipients, was tied for second in the Master's University category and ninth overall in the South. Among Southern schools, Richmond tied with Vanderbilt, Rice and Georgia and finished ahead of Davidson, Tulane, University of the South, Washington and Lee and Virginia Tech, all represented with two grantees.
Richmond's grantees were Michael Goff, of Hockessin, Del., who was awarded a Fulbright grant to Germany in the field of teaching English as a foreign language; Kevin Lingerfelt, of Fairfax, Va., who was awarded a Fulbright to Ukraine in the field of information sciences/systems; and Ian Billard, of Charlotte, N.C., who was awarded a Fulbright grant to China in the field of East Asian/Pacific/Australian studies.
They are among the approximately 1,100 students leaving the United States this fall for more than 115 foreign countries as part of the Fulbright Student Program, the best-known source of overseas study grants in the country. Students from 550 different colleges or universities applied for the grants.
The Fulbright Program was created by Congress in 1946 to promote mutual understanding between nations. Each year students' project proposals are reviewed by committees both in the United States and in the host countries, a process coordinated by the Institute of International Education. The grants, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, cover about one academic year of study in the host country. Recent college graduates, graduate students and young professionals and artists may apply.
Secretary of State Colin Powell released the names of the 2004-2005 grantees on Oct. 15. "As Fulbrighters, these Americans have important responsibilities," he said. "First and foremost, they engage in serious academic study or research abroad. In addition, they will immerse themselves in learning about their new host country and will have opportunities to share their perspectives on the United States with their hosts."
The Fulbright Program is America's flagship international educational exchange program. Since its inception, the Fulbright Program has exchanged more than 290,000 people.
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.