BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Illinois Wesleyan University student Kathryn Cannon has received a spot at the prestigious Fulbright Summer Institute in the United Kingdom. The sophomore from Rolling Meadows, Ill., will study at Cardiff University, Bangor University and Aberystwyth University in Wales as part of one of the most selective, summer scholarship programs operating worldwide.
Created by treaty in 1948, the U.S.-U.K. Fulbright Commission is the only bi-lateral, transatlantic scholarship program, offering awards and summer program for study or research in any field. The Commission is part of the Fulbright Program conceived by Senator J. William Fulbright in the aftermath of World War II to promote leadership, learning and empathy between nations through educational exchange. Award recipients support the “special relationship” between the U.S. and U.K.
Cannon will experience the U.K. on a six-week summer program, including spending two weeks studying at each of three universities in Wales. Along with seven other participants from across the United States, she will be exploring the theme of “Contemporary Wales: Economy, Culture, Politics and Change.”
While participating in the Fulbright Wales Summer Institute, Cannon said she hopes to not only explore key issues of modern-day Wales, but also of the U.K. as a whole. “I want to gain a better understanding of the Welsh culture, and how it manages to maintain its distinctive identity within a globalizing world,” said Cannon, who was selected for the institute after a rigorous application and interview process. “I am honored that I was accepted into this program and thankful for the amazing opportunities this summer institute offers.”