Embassy of the United States

Riga, July 11, 2006. – On Thursday, July 13, U.S. Ambassador to Latvia Catherine Todd Bailey will greet 11 Latvian students, scholars and teachers who will receive the prestigious Fulbright scholarship for the next academic year. This scholarship will allow them to spend two semesters in the United States studying, conducting research, or teaching.

Ambassador Bailey says that "encouraging Latvian students to get their education in the United States is one of my priorities as Ambassador and therefore I am very pleased to see more and more Latvians going to study in the United States. It is a highlight each year for the American Ambassador to announce the annual Fulbright scholarship recipients and a pleasure to welcome the Fulbright alumni who have already graduated and returned from the United States".

This year four students will pursue academic and professional studies at various American universities, and five 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, two teachers from the United States will teach English in a Latvian school as a part of the Fulbright Teacher Exchange program. (The names of the recipients and schools can be found below.)

This year's Fulbright recipients will go to 9 different universities, all of them very prestigious schools—Harvard University, University of Berkley, Syracuse University, University of Pennsylvania, Ohio University, Dominican University, University of North Carolina, and Rutgers University. Two teachers will be teaching at Ackerman Milddle School in Oregon and Chesterton High School in Indiana.

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 outstanding students, teachers, and senior educators from Latvia, and so far 147 Latvians have received these awards.

The Fulbright awards cover all expenses during the fellow's stay in the United States, as well as round-trip airfare to and from Riga. Students normally study for one or two years, while senior educators travel for either one or two semesters to conduct research or teach at universities in the United States. Teachers go to the United States to teach their subject in an American school for one academic year.

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://www.usembassy.lv/study_en/index_en.html to learn more about the program, the requirements and who can participate.

NOTE TO THE EDITOR:

Reporters and photographers interested to cover the reception in honor of Fulbright scholarship recipients on Thursday, July 13 at 17:00 should register by calling or sending an e-mail to embassy’s media specialist Kaspars Ruklis (7509022 or ruklisk@state.gov.

U.S. Embassy, Riga, Public Affairs Section
Smilšu iela 7
Rīga, LV 1050
Phone: 371 750-9022
Internet: www.usembassy.lv
Media specialist’s e-mail: ruklisk@state.gov

Fulbright Fellows, AY 2006/2007

Fulbright students:

• Ms. Ieva Tretjuka, graduate student and lecturer at the Oriental Studies Department of the University of Latvia will aim at Master's degree in Japanese studies at the University of Berkley, California;
• Mr. Valdis Celmins, filmmaker at Environmental Film Studio will study towards a Master's degree at Ohio University;
• Mr. Daniels Pavluts, former State Secretary at the Ministry of Culture has already departed to begin his Master's degree studies at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government;
• Ms. Zanda Ozola, who just graduated from Vidzeme University College has also departed to begin her Master’s degree studies at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Public Administration.

Fulbright Visiting Scholars:

• Dr. Daina Kalnina, professor and head of Environmental Pollution Laboratory of the Riga Technical University will research "Kinetic Models for the Free Radical Destruction of Micro constituents of concern" at University of California, Irvine;
• Dr. Andrejs Cebers, professor at the University of Latvia's Department of Physics and Mathematics will research "Physical Properties of Semi Flexible Magnetic Filaments" at the University of Pennsylvania;
• Dr. Liesma Ose, assistant professor, Attistiba Higher School of Social Work will research "Effectiveness of Social Services Provision for Victims of Human Trafficking" at Dominican University;
• Dr. Brigita Zepa, professor at the University of Latvia's Department of Sociology and head of Baltic Social Sciences Institute will research "Society Integration: Practice and Perspectives" at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill;
• Mr. Toms Rostoks, lecturer at the University of Latvia's Political Science Department will research "Baltic Sea Region Cooperation Scenarios" at Rutgers University.

Fulbright Exchange Teachers:

• Mrs. Sandra Nore, teacher of English at Riga High School no. 3 will teach English at Ackerman Middle School in Canby, Oregon; Here in Riga, she will be replaced by Wendy Gassaway;
• Mrs. Irene Likopa, teacher and head of English Language and Literature Department at the Riga State Gymnasium No. 1 will teach English at Chesterton High School, in Chesterton, Indiana; Douglas Pishkur will, in turn, teach here in Riga.