Curry Graduate Deborah Chu Receives Fulbright Award
Contact: Rebecca Arrington
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Aug. 11, 2009 - Deborah N. Chu, a May graduate of the University of Virginia, has been awarded a Fulbright http://fulbright.state.gov U.S. Student Scholarship to Taiwan, where she will teach English as a foreign language.
"When I received the award I was ecstatic, because it gives me the opportunity to teach, live abroad and improve my language skills," said Chu, who earned a bachelor of arts degree in American studies from the College of Arts & Sciences and a master of teaching degree from the Curry School of Education. "With my background in education, I hope the experience teaching in Taiwan will give me a more global perspective and better understanding of the differences in various public educational systems."
Chu, who lives in the Richmond area, is one of more than 1,500 U.S. citizens who will travel abroad for the 2009-10 academic year through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.
The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Since its establishment in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late Sen. J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, the program has provided approximately 294,000 people - 111,000 Americans who have studied, taught or researched abroad, and 183,000 students, scholars and teachers from other countries who have engaged in similar activities in the U.S. - with the opportunity to observe each others' political, economic, educational and cultural institutions, to exchange ideas and to embark on joint ventures of importance to the general welfare of the world's inhabitants. The program operates in more than 155 countries worldwide.
Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected on the basis of academic or professional achievements, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields.
Since 1993, 102 U.Va. alumni have received Fulbrights, according to the Fulbright U.S. Fellows directory http://www.us.fulbrightonline.org/program_students_us_list.html?first_name=&last_name=&sc[0]=1000&st[0]=47&offset=40.