 |
Fulbright Association President R. Fenton-May Presents Fulbright Prize to Colin L. Powell |
| Good afternoon. It is my privilege to open the Award Ceremony for the 2004 J. William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding. On behalf of the Fulbright Association, I would like to thank the State Department and Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Patricia Harrison, for graciously hosting this prize ceremony. |
| The Fulbright Association and its 7,500 members along with some 250,000 Fulbright alumni globally continue in our strong belief in, and commitment to, the importance of the Fulbright Program of international educational and cultural exchanges. The Fulbright Association is a private, non-profit organization, supported not only by individual Fulbright alumni and friends, but by more than 150 colleges and universities and international organizations, many of whom are represented with us today. The Association particularly appreciates The Coca-Cola Foundation both for its support of the Fulbright Prize and for the many other educational scholarship opportunities it makes possible in the United States and around the world. |
| An important part of the Fulbright Association's work is the clear articulation of the critical role our Congress plays in providing the funding necessary to ensure that the vision of successive administrations for international exchanges remains as vital today as when the Fulbright program was conceived in 1946. As more graduate students, teachers, and scholars participate in Fulbright exchanges each year, they provide significant opportunities to enhance global understanding. Visiting Fulbright students on our campuses provide enhanced diversity of thought to our own students and teachers, while American Fulbrighters abroad are citizen ambassadors for the values for which we stand while they increase their understanding of other cultures. Fulbright and other exchanges help us foster the goodwill of tomorrow. |
| The Fulbright Association is also committed to supporting the continued engagement of global Fulbright alumni groups to carry forward the message of the value of a free and open world and to foster international learning. It gave me great pleasure at a recent meeting of the Georgia Chapter to welcome one of the first Iraqi Fulbright scholars, who studies at Emory University in Atlanta, and also to welcome the first ever Fulbright scholar from Brunei, also studying at Emory. |
| The Fulbright Prize was created to recognize those who have made outstanding contributions toward furthering mutual understanding among peoples and who have helped break barriers that divide humankind. Fulbright Prize Laureates exemplify the purposes of the international educational and cultural exchange program created by the late Senator Fulbright. |
| Since its founding in 1993, the Fulbright Prize has been awarded to a most distinguished group of world leaders: early laureates included South African President Nelson Mandela and President Jimmy Carter. Last year we recognized the achievements of former Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, who did so much to help restore democracy and dignity in Brazil and broaden access for all of its people to education.
|
| This year, Fulbright Prize Selection Committee Chairperson Dr. Ruth Simmons, President of Brown University and a Fulbright alumna, was joined in her work by an international committee of notable Fulbright alumni from Ecuador, France and Korea, and selected as our laureate a distinguished leader, who throughout his career has placed a strong, consistent focus on the power of international education to further constructive relationships among nations and to develop future leaders. |
| Therefore, for his intellectual contributions to international education; for his lifetime commitment to fostering opportunities for education and leadership development of the world's citizens and for his special focus on young people, we are honored to present the 2004 Fulbright Prize to the 65th Secretary of State of the United States of America, the Honorable Colin L. Powell. Please join me in congratulating Secretary Powell. |
| [To Secretary Powell]: Congratulations, Mr. Secretary, we're very proud to honor you and to thank you for your support of international education.
|
| Further, to continue the tradition of the Fulbright Prize ceremony, and on behalf of The Coca-Cola Company for whom I worked for thirty years, I would now like to present to the 2004 Fulbright Prize Laureate this beautiful sculpture, fittingly entitled "Tribute" created by Atlanta sculptor Sergio Dolfi, a retired member of The Coca Cola family. |
| Please join us in congratulating Secretary Powell on his achievements and in welcoming him to the podium. |
| See also: |
|
|
