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St. Olaf to celebrate past, future Fulbright accomplishments

By Peter Hill '08
November 14, 2007

On Thursday, Nov. 15, St. Olaf College will host its first annual Fulbright Symposium Day. The day's events will include a public poster session in the Buntrock Commons Crossroads (11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) featuring the proposals of this year's Fulbright applicants. The final event of the day will be a panel discussion at 7 p.m. in Viking Theater, Buntrock Commons with four St. Olaf alumni who are former Fulbright scholars.

FulbrightPosters06
Last year a number of students presented their Fulbright proposals. Six of them, along with two alumni, received scholarships.
Karen de Bartolome, executive director of the Institute of International Education's Rocky Mountain Regional Center, will deliver the day's keynote address at 4 p.m. in Viking Theater. RMRC administers the Institute of International Education's initiatives -- including the Fulbright Program -- in 16 states, including Minnesota.

Fulbright leader
Since 1995, 49 St. Olaf students have received prestigious Fulbright scholarships. Last year's eight scholarships (that are being fulfilled in the 2007-08 academic year) made St. Olaf the leader in Fulbright recipients among all Minnesota schools and No. 13 in the nation among baccalaureate institutions. The flagship international educational program sponsored by the United States government, the Fulbright Program is designed to "increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries," according to the Fulbright website. Recipients pursue international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching or teaching in elementary and secondary schools worldwide.

"The symposium is a way to showcase St. Olaf's success with the Fulbright program, as well as how a liberal arts background benefits students applying for the opportunity," says event co-organizer Kirsten Cahoon '98 from the St. Olaf Center for Experiential Learning. The event also will help familiarize future applicants with the program and help prepare them for the rigorous application process.

Last year six St. Olaf students and two alumni were named Fulbright Scholars. Their areas of research include Japanese "hyper-nationalist" manga comics, Belgian energy policy and partially autonomous robots.

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