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Remarks by Patricia S. Harrison
Assistant Secretary of State for
Educational and Cultural Affairs
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| December 15, 2004 |
| Ladies and gentlemen, excellencies, distinguished guests, I'm Pat Harrison, Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, and I'm delighted and honored to join the Fulbright Association in co-hosting this ceremony and reception for the 2004 J. William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding. |
| It's really a pleasure to see so many colleagues and friends here today - people devoted to increasing mutual understanding and mutual respect between the people of the United States and other countries through the vital role that the Fulbright Program plays in that effort. |
| Our guests this afternoon include representatives from international exchange organizations, many of which partner with us in managing State Department exchange programs. |
| Fulbright Program alumni are here today, many of whom are Ambassadors. The Fulbright Program looks for future leaders. And all of you prove we've found them. |
| Current Fulbright students and scholars from the Washington, DC-area are here as well, and we're delighted to see you. Representatives from the corporate, education, foundation and government communities have joined us as well. |
| And of course Deputy Assistant Secretary Tom Farrell who runs our academic programs, and our colleagues from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and other Department of State offices have joined us. |
| It is a particular pleasure and honor for me to host the Fulbright Prize event because of this year's deserving recipient. And I can speak from experience about Secretary Powell's commitment to international exchange programs. |
| For the past three years he has rarely said no to meeting with Fulbrighters from all over the world--from Iraq or Afghanistan. Or high school students here as part of our first-ever government-sponsored program for Arab and Muslim young people |
| Further, every single morning, at his 8:30 meeting, he communicates to Under Secretaries and
Assistant Secretaries his support for these programs, and what they mean in a long-term, sustainable and positive way to so many people.
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| Mr. Secretary, by receiving this award, you've elevated Fulbright to yet another important level. |
| Our next speaker is Dr. Fenton-May, the President of the Fulbright Association, with whom we've had a long and productive relationship, and we so appreciate the excellent work of the Association's Board of Directors, its staff, and the contributions of Association members throughout the country. |
| Please join me in welcoming Dr. Fenton-May. (applause). |
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