Two UA Graduates Named Fulbright Scholars

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Two recent University of Alabama graduates, Kristen Trotter Chick of Arab and Sean Sylvia of Prattville, have received prestigious Fulbright Scholarships to study abroad during the 2007-2008 school year.

Fulbright Scholars receive round-trip transportation, tuition, book and research allowances and living expenses for an academic year in an effort to increase mutual understanding between people in the United States and people in other countries.

Chick, a 2006 UA graduate, received a Fulbright Scholarship to study in Cairo, Egypt. While in Cairo, she will continue her study of Arabic at the Arabic Language Institute.

She was recently awarded a Critical Language Enhancement Award, an additional grant available to students who are studying certain languages. This award will allow her three additional months of language study, extending her grant to one calendar year.

While enrolled at UA, Chick double-majored in journalism and political science. She also studied Arabic for three years, including an exchange in Cairo for two semesters. Chick said she hopes to become a Middle East correspondent for an American newspaper. She currently resides in Washington, D.C., and works as a reporter at The Washington Times.

Sylvia, also a 2006 UA graduate, received a Fulbright Scholarship to study in China. He will be based at Northwest University in Xi’an where he will be conducting research in northern Shaanxi province.

Sylvia plans to study factors affecting the availability and composition of financing available to small-scale rural entrepreneurs and what impact the lack of formal credit and financial systems has had on the development of private enterprise in rural areas. While in China, he also plans to attend lectures at his host university as well as participate in other research being conducted at the Northwest Socioeconomic Development Research Center there.

Sylvia majored in economics and minored in Chinese at UA. When he returns to the United States in June, he plans to enroll in a graduate program in economics.

The Fulbright Scholarship Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, is the largest U.S. international exchange program offering opportunities for students, scholars and professionals. The program allows participants to undertake international graduate study, advanced research and teaching in universities, elementary and secondary schools in more than 150 countries.