#022/08 April 2, 2008

Fulbright’s 175th Thai – U.S. Friendship Award

Since signing of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce on March 20, 1833, Thailand and the United States have continued to have strong relations. As it is the 175th year of this longstanding friendship, the two Governments have agreed to organize a series of activities to celebrate this special occasion throughout the year.

To mark this anniversary, the Thailand-United States Education Foundation (TUSEF) has created the “Fulbright 175th Anniversary Thai – U.S. Friendship Award” for 2008 Fulbright Open Competition Scholarship grantee to signify the role of Fulbright as a body that heightens mutual understanding between the peoples of the two countries through academic and cultural exchange.

TUSEF has selected Mr. Sakol Suethanapornkul to receive this prestigious award.  Mr. Sakol received First Class Honors, Gold Medal, from the Faculty of Education, Chulalongkorn University.  He will further his Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics at the University of Hawaii at Manoa beginning in August 2008.

On March 24, 2008, Mr. Sakol paid a courtesy call at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on H.E. Dr. Manaspas Xuto, Chairman of the Thailand-U.S. Educational Foundation Board of Directors, to request his advice for being a Fulbright scholar.  H.E. Manaspas presented Mr. Sakol a certificate to signify the beginning of his role as the 175th Anniversary Friendship Awardee. Both the Chair and U.S. Ambassador Eric G. John will jointly present Mr. Sakol with a plaque of honor in June 2008.

While in the United States as a Fulbrighter, Mr. Sakol will give talks about education, and will participate in various academic activities in order to exchange experiences and knowledge from March 20, 2008 - March 20, 2009. He will synthesize his experiences to share with the Thai people upon his graduation in 2010.