On June 7th, 2024 we held a graduation ceremony for our 2023-24 Fulbright US grantees who are now completing their grants in Poland. The ceremony took place in Warsaw at the Residence of the Deputy Chief of Mission Daniel Lawton. In his remarks, he congratulated the cohort on their grants completion, noting that both him and Ambassador Brzezinski are Fulbright alumni, so they know the importance of such a moment. He joked that now we are expecting someone from this cohort to come back to Poland as a diplomat.
Andrzej Szeptycki, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education highlighted the importance of international exchange and thanked the cohort for selecting Poland for their Fulbright grant, hence supporting the academic exchange between Poland and the US: “This adventure is only starting”.
The last speaker – Jacob Ligorria, Fulbright National Geographic Awardee – offered a “Valedictorian Speech” sharing his impressions from the time spent in Poland, especially what he have learned during beyond his scientific discipline (leaving in a foreign country, without knowledge of the local language). At the end he addressed his cohort saying:
“I task myself and Fulbrighters to use our curiosity to create community and help others feel at home wherever they are. Because when we have community, there is incredible opportunity for growth, exchange, and mutual understanding.”
This year, we welcomed 34 U.S. grantees who have conducted their research projects, and/or engaged in didactic activities at various higher education institutions in Poland.
