Ettie Bailey-King to attend Summer Institute in the US

Ettie Bailey-King, a Chiswick local, has received a place on a Fulbright Summer Institute to study at Drexel University on one of the most prestigious and selective summer scholarship programmes operating world-wide.

Created by treaty in 1948, the US-UK Fulbright Commission is the only bi-lateral, transatlantic scholarship programme, offering awards and summer programmes for study or research in any field, at any accredited US or UK University. The Commission is part of the Fulbright programme 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 and summer programme participants will be the future leaders for tomorrow and support the “special relationship” between the US and UK.

As a participant, Ettie Bailey-King has been selected from a strong applicant pool to experience the US on a 5 week summer programme.

Ettie was born and raised in London, though her eyes have always been firmly on the horizon. After travels across Russia and the Far East (including, memorably, being bitten by a monkey in Siberia) Ettie was convinced that study and work abroad would be a big part of her future. With an interest in women’s rights around the world, and social mobility closer to home, Ettie hopes to work as a lobbyist and political campaigner in the future. She is currently studying English Literature at Durham University, where she devotes her time to student politics, journalism and learning to make the perfect cup of tea. Ettie is thrilled to be visiting America for the first time- a continent whose culture and influence have captivated her from afar- and to be participating in a summer school the aims of which are truly life-changing.

Commenting on receiving the place, Ettie said: “I am thrilled to have won a place on the Civic Activism Summer Institute. It is an incredible opportunity to meet new people from around the world, learn new things and immerse myself in the culture of the USA. I am incredibly excited to visit the USA for the first time, and hope that my experiences in Philadelphia will be not only academically stimulating but very personally rewarding. I look forward to learning more about citizenship and political engagement, and enhancing my cross-cultural understanding.

The Commission selects participants through a rigorous application and interview process. In making these awards the Commission looks not only for academic excellence but a focused application, a range of extracurricular and community activities, demonstrated ambassadorial skills, a desire to further the Fulbright Programme and a plan to give back to the recipient’s home country upon returning.

Fulbright Summer Programmes cover all participant costs. In addition, Fulbright summer participants receive a distinctive support and cultural education programme including: visa processing, a comprehensive pre-departure orientation, enrichment opportunities in country, a re-entry session and opportunity to join our alumni networks.

Each year, the Commission supports around 50 UK and US undergraduate students to undertake a demanding academic and cultural summer programmes at leading institutions in the US and UK respectively. Nearly 300,000 women and men from all over the world have had their lives changed as participants in the Fulbright Programme. Of these alumni, approximately 15,000 UK nationals have studied in the US and nearly 12,000 US nationals in the UK on our educational exchange programmes.

Notable alumni of the US-UK Commission include: Malcolm Bradbury, novelist; Liam Byrne, politician; Milton Friedman, economist and Nobel Prize Winner 1976; Charles Kennedy, politician; John Lithgow, actor; Tarik O’Regan, composer; Sylvia Plath, poet; Lord William Wallace, politician; Ian Rankin, novelist; Sir Christopher Rose QC, judge; Baroness (Shirley) Williams, politician; Vanessa Heaney, journalist BBC World Service; and Toby Young, journalist and playwright.

The Commission is funded partially by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills in the UK and the US Department of State, with additional support coming from a variety of individual and institutional partners.

June 29, 2011