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 You are in: Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs > Bureau of Public Affairs > Bureau of Public Affairs: Press Relations Office > Press Releases (Other) > 2008 > July 
Media Note
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
July 10, 2008


U.S. Department of State Hosting Largest Pre-Departure Orientation in History for U.S. Fulbright Students and Scholars

The Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is hosting July 9-11 more than 500 U.S. Fulbright students and scholars in Washington, DC for a series of pre-departure orientations in preparation for their upcoming overseas exchanges in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, Eurasia, South and Central Asia and the Western Hemisphere. Fulbright students and scholars are hearing from experts about regional and cross-cultural issues and promoting mutual understanding, as well as participating in sessions on health and safety abroad and discussing country-specific background. Fulbright Program alumni are also participating in these orientations, sharing information with the outgoing students and scholars. These pre-departure orientations follow Department of State-hosted orientations held in June for students and scholars traveling to Africa and China.

“We are excited to welcome so many Fulbright Program participants to Washington to help them prepare for their overseas experiences,” said Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Goli Ameri. “The size of this year’s group reflects the importance the United States places on its exchange programs and the mutual understanding they create among people worldwide.”

Fulbright alumnus and president and CEO of Grameen Foundation USA (GFUSA), Alex Counts, will present the plenary address on Friday, July 11, from 12:00 to 12:45 p.m. at the Marriott Renaissance Hotel at 999 9th Street, NW, Washington, DC. Mr. Counts received a Fulbright fellowship to Bangladesh, where he worked under Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, also a Fulbright Program alumnus and the founder and managing director of the Grameen Bank. Based in Washington, DC, the Grameen Foundation has a global network of 52 microfinance partners in 22 countries.

Mr. Counts will be available to speak to the press following the plenary speech. Interested media should contact Sameer Sheikh at (202) 628 3560 ext. 112.

The Fulbright Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, is the U.S. government’s flagship international exchange program and is supported by the people of the United States and partner countries around the world. Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 286,000 participants with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, to exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.

Media inquiries about the Fulbright Program (http://fulbright.state.gov) or other programs managed by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (http://exchanges.state.gov/) may be directed to Darlene Kirk, 202-203-7616.

2008/561


Released on July 10, 2008

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