ATLANTA–Two Georgia State University Honors College students have received places on Fulbright Summer Institutes, one of the most prestigious and selective summer scholarship programs operating world-wide.
Samaria Henry, a junior from Rex, Ga., studying political science has been awarded a place at the University of Bristol. Ryan Harris, a junior from Woodstock, Ga., studying film and media has been awarded a place at the University of Birmingham. The Summer Institutes form part of the U.S.-U.K. Fulbright Commission’s work to promote leadership, learning and empathy among nations through educational exchange.
Henry will experience the United Kingdom on a four-week program in arts, activism and social justice at the University of Bristol where she will learn about different social movements across the world with special reference to the trans-Atlantic slave trade and how art fueled these movements. Henry, who plans to go to law school, chose the program because she wants to learn more about social movements so she can make a difference through policy change after graduating from law school.
“The Honors College helped me throughout this process from mock interviews to editing my essays,” Henry said. “I would encourage students who are interested in going through the national scholarship process to not be discouraged by feedback but be open to it as it will only make you a stronger candidate.”
Harris will experience the United Kingdom on a three-week program at the University of Birmingham Film and Media Summer Institute where he will learn about the British production system, British film history and theory, and take classes on authorship, genres and production. Harris, chose this institute as it aligned with his career goals of becoming a filmmaker.
“You never know unless you try,” Harris said. “Make sure you are being true to yourself while also being polished. Put effort and time into your personal statements and it will pay off.”
Fulbright Summer Institutes cover all participant costs and provide participants with a distinctive support and cultural education program, including visa processing, a comprehensive pre-departure orientation, enrichment opportunities in country, a re-entry session and an opportunity to join the Fulbright alumni networks.
The Commission selects participants through a rigorous application and interview process. In making these awards, the Commission looks not only for academic excellence but a focused application, a range of extracurricular and community activities, ambassadorial skills, a desire to further the Fulbright Programme and a plan to give back to the recipient’s home country upon returning.
About the US-UK Fulbright Commission:
The U.S.-U.K. Fulbright Commission was created by treaty on Sept. 22, 1948 and is part of the Fulbright program conceived by U.S. Senator J William Fulbright in the aftermath of World War II to promote leadership, learning and empathy among nations through educational exchange. It achieves this through its awards program for U.S. and U.K. citizens and through its EducationUSA Advisory Service. The Fulbright Commission offers grants at postgraduate and postdoctoral level for study in any discipline and at any accredited institution in the U.S. and U.K., as well as a number of special exchanges programs for shorter projects or for younger scholars. The commission’s programs are funded by a range of partners, including leading U.S. and U.K. universities, charities and governments. For more information, visit www.fulbright.org.uk.
About the U.K. Summer Institutes:
Each year, the Commission supports up to 60 U.S. undergraduate students to undertake a demanding academic and cultural summer program at leading institutions in the U.K. This year it is hosting nine Summer Institute programs at host institutions across the U.K.: AIFS Summer Institute at Shakespeare's Globe; University of Bristol Summer Institute; University of Exeter Summer Institute; Queen's University Belfast Summer Institute; the University of Westminster Summer Institute; the University of Sussex Summer Institute; the Scotland Summer Institute (at the Glasgow School of Art; and the University of Strathclyde); and the Aberystwyth University Summer Institute in Wales. For more information, visit https://www.fulbright.org.uk/fulbright-awards/exchanges-to-the-uk/undergraduates.