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St. Olaf continues Fulbright streak; eight scholarships awarded, five to German majors

Nancy J. Ashmore
June 6, 2002

Six students and two recent graduates (five of whom majored in German while at St. Olaf) have been named Fulbright Scholars for the 2002-03 academic year, according to John Day, outgoing associate dean for interdisciplinary and general studies.

Four women have been awarded scholarships to Germany. Amber Griffioen, a German and philosophy double major from Grand Rapids, Mich., Kristin Melby, a German and history double major from Ames, Iowa, and Mariah Stember, Bemidji, Minn., who has a German major and a concentration in management studies, have been awarded scholarships to serve as teaching assistants in Germany. Leah Smith, a German and political science double major from Cyrus, Minn., will complete an independent project in comparative politics while in Germany.

Kathryn Kornau, a senior Asian studies major from Cincinnati, Ohio, has been awarded a Fulbright scholarship to China and John Duong Phan, an ancient studies, Asian studies and religion triple major from Madison, Wis., has received a Fulbright scholarship to Vietnam, where he will undertake a study of Chu Nom, an ancient ideographic script that is in danger of becoming extinct.

Two members of the Class of 2001 have also been awarded Fulbrights. Elisabeth Kracher, a German major, has been granted a Fulbright to teach in Austria, and psychology major Loran Nordgren, was informed in early June that he has been awarded a Fulbright to do psychology research in the Netherlands next year.

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government's flagship program in international educational exchange. Since the program's inception in 1946, more than 250,000 U.S. citizens and nationals of other countries -- chosen for their leadership potential -- have had the opportunity to observe each other's political, economic and cultural institutions while engaging in a variety of educational activities, primarily university lecturing, advanced research, graduate study and teaching in elementary and secondary schools. Fulbright Scholarships provide recipients with a monthly stipend in addition to covering transportation, tuition, fees and room and board.

St. Olaf students regularly are awarded this prestigious scholarship. Last year, six St. Olaf graduates received Fulbright scholarships: two to Norway, two to Germany, one to Tanzania and one to Japan.

Contact David Gonnerman at 507-786-3315 or gonnermd@stolaf.edu.