For 74 years now, Fulbright Austria has been sending students, researchers, teachers, artists, specialists and foreign language assistants as cultural ambassadors to the USA and Austria.
On “Giving Tuesday”, on December 3, 2024, the Fulbright Austria community celebrated the gift of international education as part of the traditional “Thank Fulbright – Thanksgiving” festival in the Waldviertlerhof in Vienna. Over 60 alumni, current program participants from the USA and representatives from Fulbright Austria’s partner institutions came together.
“This Thank Fulbright Thanksgiving, let us celebrate the gift of education and the future we can create with it – a future based on knowledge and empathy.” This is how Fulbright Austria Executive Director Dr. Hermann Agis celebrated the celebrations together with section head Mag. Barbara Weitgruber from the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) and Embassy Councilor Elizabeth Martin-Shukrun from the US Embassy in Austria and Ambassador Mag. Ulrike Butschek, President of the Austrian Fulbright Alumni Association.
At the following Thanksgiving dinner, the guests from the USA and Austria shared their memories and their very personal successes. In addition to the reunion, new, cross-generational friendships were also made.
“In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I want to thank everyone who continues to help us share the gift of international education with the next generation of program participants, our Bright Minds. My thanks go to the Austrian and US governments, the Fulbright Austria Board of Directors, the Fulbright Austria team and all our partners and supporters for their valuable contributions. Together we can make the ‘Bright Minds’ shine even brighter!” says Hermann Agis.
The Thanksgiving celebrations were accompanied online by the “12 Days of Giving Thanks” campaign on Fulbright Austria’s social media channels.
The Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) supports Fulbright Austria’s fundraising initiative to strengthen the program through a “matching fund”. Every donation up to Ꞓ 150,000 is doubled and has twice the effect. There are many options for all those who want to make their contribution in line with the vision of Fulbright Austria. You can find out more about this at https://www.fulbright.at
About the history of Fulbright Austria
The Austrian Fulbright Commission has existed since 1950 as part of the global network of Fulbright programs. Since 1951, aspiring Austrian and US students and scientists from various disciplines have been studying, teaching and researching in the respective partner country through the prestigious Fulbright scholarships. Fulbright has been organizing the administration of US participants in the foreign language assistance program of the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) since 1962. Fulbright Austria also serves as an EducationUSA advice center and is the first point of contact for all kinds of questions in the subject areas (higher education). School education and studies in the USA.
The Fulbright Program is funded by annual contributions from the Austrian and U.S. governments and supplemented by third-party funding from a number of institutional partnerships and private donations.
Further information for interested parties: https://www.fulbright.at
Download and integration details video:
https://www.apa-ots-video.at/video/f0b3d6cfc7904f47b3d6cfc790df4789