Elmhurst University student Amar Rajput will soon be headed to Scotland to participate in the prestigious Fulbright UK Summer Institutes program.
A rising junior from Lombard, Ill., Rajput is the first Elmhurst University student ever to be selected for the program, and one of only eight students selected nationwide. He will leave on July 15 for the Fulbright Scotland Summer Institute on Technology, Innovation and Creativity, a three-week cultural and academic experience at the Glasgow School of Art and the University of Strathclyde.
“I am excited and very grateful to be granted this opportunity to travel outside the U.S. with Fulbright, and am looking forward to immersing myself in the rich culture of Scotland,” said Rajput, a biology major who plans to become a doctor. “I’m looking forward to meeting new people with diverse experiences and backgrounds, both inside and outside the classroom.”
The Fulbright UK Summer Institutes program is available to U.S. undergraduate students who have had no or very little travel experience outside North America. Participants explore the culture, heritage and history of the United Kingdom while experiencing higher education at a leading UK university.
By increasing access to study abroad and cultural exchange opportunities like the Fulbright UK Summer Institutes program, Elmhurst University fosters growth-minded paths for development in its students, giving them timeless knowledge and skills to thrive as adaptive leaders. At his UK Summer Institute, Rajput will learn about Scottish history and identity, as well as the health and well-being research being conducted at Strathclyde’s Technology and Innovation Centre.
“The experience is one that I know will contribute to my future as an impactful physician and patient advocate,” he said.
The Summer Institutes form part of the US-UK Fulbright Commission’s work to promote leadership, learning and empathy between nations through educational exchange. Participants are selected through a rigorous application and interview process. In making these awards, the Commission looks not only for academic excellence but also a focused application, a range of extracurricular and community activities, demonstrated ambassadorial skills and a plan to give back to the recipient’s home country upon returning.
“Cultural exchange is a truly transformative experience, and I am excited to see this year’s UK Summer Institutes participants embark on this journey of immersing themselves in British academia and culture,” said Maria Balinska, executive director of the US-UK Fulbright Commission. “I’m confident this experience will leave a lasting impression on both the participants and on those they meet and connect with during their time here.”
To learn more about national scholarship, fellowship and other opportunities, contact Marisa Mancini, national fellowships and scholarships coordinator, at [email protected].