Press Releases 08
2008-2009 U.S. Fulbright-Gracía Robles Grantees Arrive in
Mexico
Statement
by Ambassador Antonio O. Garza
Mexico City, August 27, 2008- “Today 80 students and professors
from across the United States began their Fulbright fellowships
in Mexico. They will spend this academic year based in cities
and towns across Mexico, where some of them will teach English,
some will work in Mexican companies, and some will study topics
ranging from history, to biology, to art. They will be based
in Mexico City, Oaxaca, Veracruz, Jalisco, the Yucatan, and
other parts of the country. No matter what their focus or
where they are located, all of them will learn much about
Mexico and teach Mexicans about the United States as well.
“I am pleased that so many U.S. students and professionals
have chosen to deepen their knowledge of Mexico by coming
here. Our two countries have much to learn from one another,
and Fulbright-García Robles exchanges make it possible for
students and professionals to develop greater understanding,
while satisfying their intellectual curiosity about another
place and culture. In addition to the 80 U.S. students and
scholars in Mexico, 193 Mexicans are teaching or studying
in the United States during this academic year as Fulbright-García
Robles grantees.
“The United States government’s flagship academic exchange
program was established in 1946, thanks to the initiative
of then-Arkansas Senator J. William Fulbright. Soon after,
it became known worldwide as the ‘Fulbright Program.’ The
Mexico-U.S. Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange
(COMEXUS) oversees the program in Mexico. The goal of COMEXUS
is to promote mutual understanding between our two countries
through educational and cultural exchanges.
“COMEXUS offers programs for professionals, students, researchers,
university professors, and public school teachers and administrators
of both countries. Under an agreement reached in 1992, all
of the Fulbright scholarship programs administered by COMEXUS
are financed by both governments, and the scholarship was
renamed the ‘Fulbright-García Robles’ in honor of Mexican
Ambassador Emeritus and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Alfonso
García Robles. Mexico and the United States directly contribute
a combined total of over $3.5 million dollars a year to the
program. Additional funds are contributed by private donors,
making it possible to offer more scholarships. Since its inception,
over 4000 Mexican and U.S. grantees have benefited from the
Fulbright- García Robles Program.”
For more information about the Fulbright-García Robles Program,
visit www.comexus.org.mx. |
