Utah State University Student Receives Prestigious Fulbright Award

A Utah State University student has won a prestigious Fulbright award for study and research abroad for the 2004-05 academic year. Abigail Jensen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Jensen of Brigham City, won an award to travel and study in

Mexico

. She is one of eight out of 28 successful applicants in her specialty area.

Jensen will live in Mexico City and pursue her studies in business. She is a recent graduate of Utah State, completing a major in accounting and a minor in Spanish. She will defer her enrollment in graduate school until the completion of her Fulbright Award.

Since the program's inception in 1946, a number of Utah State students have received Fulbrights and their names are listed on a plaque on the "Wall of Fame" in Merrill Library. Jensen will join that list.

The United States Congress created the Fulbright Program in 1946, immediately after World War II. Senator J. William Fulbright, sponsor of the legislation, saw it as a step toward building international cooperation, according to the Fulbright Web site.

"With this as a starting point, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 255,000 participants — chosen for their leadership potential — with the opportunity to observe each others’ political, economic and cultural institutions, exchange ideas and embark on joint ventures of importance to the general welfare of the world’s inhabitants," the site said.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program in the

United States

is the flagship program for international educational exchange. Grants are used to support graduate study, university lecturing, advanced research or professional training in the arts. The program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Jensen is the recipient of the Binational Business Grant that includes a full-time internship and part-time graduate studies in

Mexico

.

"I will be doing my internship with Scotiabank in its corporate and investment banking department," she said. "I'm not sure at which university I will study, but I have looked seriously at Tec de Monterrey. I will take classes that will apply toward the master's degree in accounting that I plan to finish at Utah State."

Jensen said she wants to bring home a better understanding of international business and the culture of

Mexico

.

"I am excited for the opportunity to represent our country as a Fulbright Fellow in

Mexico

," she concluded.

The U.S. Student Fulbright Program awards approximately 1,000 grants annually and operates in more than 140 countries. For more than 57 years, this

U.S.

government sponsored program has offered highly qualified students an unparalleled opportunity to study, conduct research and teach in other nations. A Fulbright grant provides funding for round-trip travel, maintenance for one academic year, health and accident insurance and tuition.

For more information about student Fulbright awards, contact the Provost's office at Utah State, vice provost for Academic and International Affairs, at (435) 797-1166 or see http://www.iie.org/fulbright. The campus deadline for students to apply for the 2005-06 program is fall 2004. Fulbright Scholar Awards also are available to faculty members. For more information visit the Web site at http://www.cies.org.