Looking more closely into Germany's handling of recent immigration of several hundred thousand former Soviets into the country, he hopes to explore how the immigrants have been integrated into society. His interest has something of a personal tie since his mother's ancestors were of German origin and lived in Russia prior to the United States. The Fulbright Program, founded in 1946, allows more than 800 Americans each year to study or conduct research in over 100 nations. The highly competitive U.S. student program is designed to give recent graduates opportunities for intellectual and professional growth while learning from international experience and cross-cultural interaction. The grant covers transportation, tuition, book allowances and living expenses in the host country.
Most grants are for one academic year of study or research.
Alexander, an international studies and German major, looks forward to the experience ahead of him. He spent last year in a Junior Year Abroad Program in Frieburg so is comfortable with the language and the culture of the country. Following the year in Germany, Alexander plans to attend graduate school in international relations. His interest in things international have evolved over the years. In high school he participated in speech and debate and discovered he really enjoyed the challenge of foreign extemporaneous debate.