Press Release

Oglethorpe Student Awarded Fulbright Fellowship

ATLANTA- The J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board has notified Oglethorpe University senior Valerie Carrie Holshouser of Knoxville, Tenn. of her selection as a Fulbright Fellow. Holshouser will study in Japan during the 1998-99 academic term.

"We are delighted Valerie Holshouser is one of the few students nationwide chosen to receive a Fulbright Fellowship for study in Japan," said Oglethorpe University President Dr. Donald S. Stanton. "This is an exceptionally prestigious honor. Valerie is a superb example of the outstanding student leaders at Oglethorpe University. She now joins the ranks of distinguished scholars and professionals worldwide who are leaders in the educational, political, economic, social and cultural lives of their countries. We could not be prouder."

Holshouser, an international studies major, is a member of Alpha Chi, Phi Beta Delta, Phi Eta Sigma and Omicron Delta Kappa honor societies. She has served as a tutor and mentor at Oglethorpe and is a member of the Urban Leadership Program and Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity.

Holshouser is the daughter of Sidney and Patricia Holshouser of Knoxville. Her grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ustian of Riverview, Fla. and Mrs. Esther Labahn of Prescott, Ariz. Holshouser is a graduate of Farragut High School.

The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 under legislation introduced by former Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas. The Fulbright Program was administered by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the Department of State until 1978 when these functions were transferred to the U.S. Information Agency.

Approximately 215,000 "Fulbrighters," 80,000 from the United States and 135,000 from abroad, have participated in the program since it began in 1946. Each year the program enables more than 800 Americans to study or conduct research in more than 100 nations.

Holshouser’s fellowship is one of 15 Fulbright Fellowships offered for graduating seniors to study in Japan. Students will be placed in education institutions outside of Tokyo. The students structure their own program combining language study, selected course study according to their Japanese proficiency and individual research under the guidance of an assigned professor.

"I am absolutely thrilled that Valerie was chosen for a Fulbright; I can't think of a more deserving student," said Dr. Robin LeBlanc, assistant professor of Japanese politics. "The Fulbright program is a great one, and Valerie has the energy and determination to make great use of her year in Japan. It is wonderful to see evidence like this Fulbright award of the growing success of Japanese studies at Oglethorpe and in the Southeast in general. I will look forward to hearing what she has done in a year, and I hope to see more students like Valerie going to Japan in the future."

Oglethorpe University is an independent, highly-selective, coeducational liberal arts institution located in Atlanta. The University offers two types of Japanese Studies minors and International Studies majors may complete an Asia Concentration requiring Japanese language training and Asian study abroad.

###