Celebrating the New Fulbright Finland Grantees and the Bicentennial Chairs Nearly 200 guests took part in festivities at the Helsinki City Hall in May to honor 38 outgoing Fulbright Finland grantees to the United States and to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Distinguished Fulbright Bicentennial Chair in American Studies. The special Anniversary event was cohosted by the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the City of Helsinki. Current U.S. Fulbright student Simon Barrad, who is studying voice at the Sibelius Academy and the Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, gave an extraordinary musical performance that raised spontaneous “bravos” from the audience. Another highlight was when all the current American Fulbrighters stood up from the audience to join Barrad in the chorus to Laatokka, which the Americans sung in Finnish to the delight and amazement of their hosts. The evening event followed a full-
Cornerstone of American Studies in Finland
day orientation training where the outgoing grantees were prepared for their Fulbrights with interactive discussions, shared experiences from the alumni, and information from insurances and taxes to visas and Fulbrighters’ role in communication and media. Photos: Studio Terho Photography
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www.fulbright.fi
In 2016 Fulbright Finland is honoring the oldest Distinguished Fulbright Chair in the global Fulbright program, the Fulbright Bicentennial Chair in North American Studies at the University of Helsinki, on its 40th Anniversary. This Chair has been a cornerstone of American Studies in Finland and the Bicentennial Professors have touched the lives and work of thousands of students and researchers in Finland. Each of the Bicentennials have left their own permanent legacy in their field, and in Finnish-American relations. Altogether 14 Chairs, past and present, had come to Finland from the United States to attend the special Anniversary event.