Wheaton ranks fifth in the nation for Fulbright awards
October 24, 2007
The Fulbright Program recently announced the complete list of colleges and universities that produced the most 2007-2008 U.S. Fulbright Fellows. The success of the top producing institutions was highlighted in the October 26 edition of The Chronicle of Higher Education(registration required).
Nine students from Wheaton College won Fulbright awards for 2007-2008--tying the college for fifth among all US Bachelor's institutions.
"As the recipient of a Fulbright Award to Germany, I truly appreciate the life-changing power of the opportunity to research, live and study abroad," said Ronald A. Crutcher, president of Wheaton College. "The effort that we spend in preparing young scholars to compete for Fulbright Scholarships reflects the college's commitment to transforming students' lives. It also testifies to the dedication that Associate Dean of Studies Alex Trayford and Wheaton faculty invests in advising our talented young scholars."
The Fulbright competition is administered at Wheaton College through Dean Trayford. He noted that, "The nine Fulbright Scholars last year are the highest total won by Wheaton students in any single year. Also, tying for fifth this year out of all Bachelor's institutions, Wheaton has attained its highest ranking nationally to date for Fulbrights won by its students. In the last three years, twenty-one Wheaton students have been named Fulbright Scholars."
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program equips future American leaders with the skills they need to thrive in an increasingly global environment by providing funding for one academic year of study, research or assistant teaching abroad. Lists of Fulbright recipients are available at: www.fulbrightonline.org/us.
Fellows undertake self-designed programs in disciplines ranging from the social sciences, business, communication and performing arts to physical sciences, engineering and education.
Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided approximately 290,000 participants worldwide with the opportunity to observe each others' political, economic and cultural institutions, exchange ideas and embark on joint ventures of importance to the general welfare of the world's inhabitants. In the past 61 years, almost 42,000 students from the United States have benefited from the Fulbright experience.
The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Financial support is provided by an annual appropriation from Congress to the Department of State, with significant contributions from participating governments and host institutions in the United States and abroad. The Presidentially appointed J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board formulates policy guidelines and makes the final selection of all grantees.
In the United States, the Institute of International Education administers and coordinates the activities relevant to the U.S. Student Program, including conducting an annual competition for the scholarships.
The Fulbright Program also awards grants to American teachers and faculty to do research, lecture and teach overseas. In addition, some 2,200 new 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.