U.S. Ambassador Hosts a Reception and Concert in Honor of Fulbright Scholarship Recipients

On Tuesday, July 10, U.S. Ambassador to Latvia Catherine Todd Bailey congratulated nine Latvian students, scholars and teachers who have been awarded the prestigious Fulbright scholarship for the next academic year. The recipients were honored with a concert by renowned American bluesman Otis Taylor and his band.

Ambassador Bailey stated: "As the U.S. Ambassador to Latvia, encouraging Latvian students to study and participate in educational exchanges in the United States is a top priority. I am proud to award the annual Fulbright scholarships to these nine talented students, teachers and researchers."

This year three students will pursue academic and professional studies at various American universities, and two scholars will conduct research at U.S. academic institutions under the U.S. government's Fulbright program. Two teachers will teach English as a second language in American high schools, and in exchange, one teacher from the United States will teach English in a Latvian school as a part of the Fulbright Teacher Exchange program.

This year's Fulbright recipients will go to five different universities - Georgetown University, University of San Diego, Wayne State University, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, and George Mason University. Two teachers will be teaching at Jonathan Turner Junior High School in Jacksonville, Illinois and North Olmsted High School in Ohio.

Former U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright established the Fulbright program in 1946. The goal of the program is to increase mutual understanding among the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The U.S. government maintains the Fulbright program with many countries all over the world. Since 1992 the United States government has offered Fulbright fellowships to 158 outstanding students, teachers, and senior educators from all over Latvia.

Ambassador Bailey encourages qualified Latvian students, scholars, and teachers to participate in the competition for next year's scholarships. The embassy will announce the next competition for the Fulbright Fellowship program in August. Please visit http://riga.usembassy.gov/EN/site/A/office/pa/education/fulbright05 to learn more about the program, the requirements and who can participate.

Fulbright Student Fellowship recipients AY 2007/2008:
--Ms. Ilze Dzenovska will work towards her Master's degree in Peace and Justice Studies program at the University of San Diego.
--Ms. Liva Muizniece, doctoral student at the University of Latvia will work towards her Ph.D. in Philosophy at Wayne State University.
--Ms. Katrina Kaktina, lawyer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already departed to begin her Master's degree studies at Georgetown University.

Fulbright Visiting Scholars, AY 2007/2008:
--Dr. Gunta Rozina, Associate Professor, Faculty of Modern Languages, University of Latvia will research "Applied linguistics of intercultural communication" at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
--Dr. Vjaceslavs Dombrovskis, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Stockholm School of Economics in Riga, will conduct his research at George Mason University. The theme of Dr. Dombrovskis' research is "What do political connections buy?"

Fulbright Exchange Teachers, AY 2007/2008:
--Mr. Janis Zeimanis, a teacher of the English language at Riga State Gymnasium No. 1, will teach English at Jonathan Turner Junior High School in Jacksonville, Illinois. He will trade places with Timothy W. Chipman.
--Mrs. Inara Strautniece, a teacher of the English language at Marupe Secondary school, will teach English at North Olmsted High School in North Olmsted, Ohio.