From ancient ruins to cutting-edge tech! Our March Fulbright meeting took US grantees on a fascinating journey through Budapest, exploring Aquincum Museum’s Roman history & Graphisoft Park’s innovative spirit.

The day began with an exploration of Kolodko Art’s miniature sculptures along the Danube, setting a playful tone for the day.

The group then delved into ancient history at the Aquincum Museum, learning about the Roman military and civil town’s pivotal role as the capital of Pannonia Inferior. Highlights included the museum’s displays on the Legio II Adiutrix, the city’s golden age under Septimius Severus, and the eventual transition to the Huns.

Centuries later, in 1778 an Óbuda winegrower discovered the remains of Roman underfloor heating while digging pits. The origin and role of the remains was recognized by a university librarian, who connected them with the town of Aquincum.

The afternoon shifted to modern innovation at Graphisoft Park. Marcel Hillier, Product Marketing Expert, presented on Graphisoft SE and its flagship architectural BIM software. Grantees were also treated to a glimpse of tech history:

* the world’s first Steve Jobs statue, commissioned by Graphisoft founder Gábor Bojár. The relationship between Graphisoft and Apple can be traced to the 1980’s, when Jobs came across the first version of Graphisoft’s Archicad software.

* the world’s first statue of Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto

The group also learned about the establishment of AIT-Budapest, which offers study abroad programs for North American computer science students.

The event showcased the diverse cultural and technological landscape of Budapest, offering grantees a comprehensive experience of the city.

Alum Book launch in Szeged: Hungarian Roots & American Dreams by co-editor Anna Fenyvesi (’24 West Virginia University #Fulbright)

The book explores the rich tapestry of experiences connecting Hungary and the United States.

A packed room at the Szeged Szent-Györgyi Albert Agóra on February 7th buzzed with excitement for the launch of “Hungarian Roots & American Dreams.” The event, celebrating the new book drew an audience of approximately 120, with many more joining online. Editors, 17 contributing authors, family members, colleagues, and community members were all in attendance.

The launch also served as a reunion for Fulbright alumni, with Ágnes Fülemile (’98 Rutgers University & ’92 UC Berkeley / The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York), Anita Kéri (’22 San Jose State University), and Bertalan Takács (’23 UC San Diego) among those present.

The program featured an impromptu lecture by ethnographer Balázs Balogh, who authored the volume’s introduction. Following his talk, three of the book’s authors shared compelling stories from their families’ histories, bringing the book’s themes to life.

“I want to thank all our authors for sharing their stories – we wouldn’t have a volume without you!” said co-editor Fenyvesi.

The English version of the book is available for purchase on Amazon.

Photos from the event were taken by István Roboz.

In observance of U.S. National Day of Mourning, the Hungarian-American Fulbright Commission for Educational Exchange would like to commemorate the legacy of the 39th President, James Earl (Jimmy) Carter.

His presidency left a significant mark on Hungary, where he is remembered for returning the Holy Crown to the people of Hungary in 1978. A symbol of a thousand years of Hungarian statehood, the Crown had been in U.S. custody at Fort Knox since the end of WWII.

The event and the resultant good feeling enabled the first Fulbright grants in 1979.

President Carter traveled to Budapest in 1996 as the keynote speaker of the Spirit of Global Understanding conference (picture) to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Global Fulbright program.

The Humphrey Fellowship Program was also founded by President Carter in 1978 with the intent to create a program that embodied the values of democracy, social justice, and a desire to assist the world’s developing nations.

His death marks the end of an era, leaving behind a legacy of compassion, moral clarity, and service.

10 returned Hungarian alumni of The Fulbright Program of 2023-2024 academic year presented on their teaching/research and personal experience in a public conference.

Special thanks to US scholar section chairs Christopher Grayson ’24 and Grant Currier ’23 for their contribution.

• Kristóf Pap (’23 NYU School of Law): The reform of international investment law
• Eszter Szép (’23 University of Oregon): Graphic Narratives and Design
• Barnabás Szászi (’23 Harvard Business School): What are the most effective ways to increase happiness worldwide?
• Gabriella Lükő (’23 Colorado School of Mines): Surface heat exchange processes over the Great Lakes in winter
• Veronika Hornyák Gracza (’23 American University): The other side of the same coin: gender equality, military operations and defence policy across the Atlantic
• Judit Kis (’23 University of North Texas): Optomotry-based investigation of a novel anti-glaucoma agent
• Viktor Németh (’23 New York University): The importance and role of restorative mediation in cases of property crime
• Andrea Timár (’23 Brown University): Hannah Arendt and Literature
• Attila Császár (’23 NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory / Caltech): Networking in spectroscopy and in California
• Krisztina Petra Gula (’23 UC Berkeley): On the Borderline of Criminal Justice and Mental Health: Mental Health Courts in California

9 returned Hungarian alumni of The Fulbright Program of 2023-2024 academic year presented on their teaching/research and personal experience in a public conference at Corvinus University of Budapest recently inaugurated, future-oriented new Gellért Campus with inspiring and innovative spaces.

The event began with opening remarks from Prof. Tamás Magyarics, Chair of the Fulbright Commission Board.

We were also honored to hear from Melissa Quartell, Cultural Attaché, U.S. Embassy Budapest, who shared heartfelt words of encouragement and appreciation celebrating knowledge, innovation, and the power of international collaboration.

Finally, Rodrigo Ballester, Ministerial Commissioner for Higher Education, Ministry of Culture and Innovation welcomed the audience on behalf of the Minister.

• Bálint Béres (’23 City of Hope Beckman Research Institute): Quantitative analysis of Extracellular Vesicles
• Kata Hubai (’23 Humphrey Fellowship Program at Vanderbilt Peabody College): Supporting novice teachers’ transitioning into in-service teaching
• Sára Török (’23 FLTA at Indiana University): My Year In Indiana
• Máté Szórád (’23 UCLA Extension): Budapest to Hollywood and Back: Production Services Across Continents
• Szilvia Néveri Varagya (’23 Harrisburg University of Science and Technology): What Voters Want? Political Polarization Through Leadership Preferences
• Patrik Pördi (’22 University of Maryland / Maryland Applied Graduate Engineering): Studying robotics in the greater DC area combined with dynamic drone startup collaboration in Utah
• József Balázs Fejes (’23 Rutgers University): Research on Motivation and a Researcher’s Motivation
• Andrea Soós (’23 Fulbright Schuman Grantee at Center for Architecture (AIANY)): Transatlantic Relations in Architecture
• Soma Papp (’23 Colorado State University): Scribing with lasers – novel sensor platform for diagnostic tests

Special thanks to US scholar section chairs Cynthia Horne ’24 and Peter Fuleky ’24 for their contribution.

The Commission organized the 5th U.S. Study Abroad Capacity Building tour for 10 representatives of 4 U.S. universities (Western Carolina University, East Tennessee State University, University of Louisville and University of Tennessee, Knoxville) from Appalachia between June 8-15, 2024

DAY 1

Lecture on History of Hungary

Lecture on American Hungarians in the Appalachia: Anna Fenyvesi (’24 West Virginia University)

City tour by bus

Visit to Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design: Anikó Illés (’19 Montclair State University)

 
DAY 2

Visiting the Heritage House – Hungarian Folk Culture and Folk Art: Péter Árendás, Professional Leader for Folk Music

Visit to Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music: Ágnes Lakatos (’23 Columbia College) and Gyula Fekete (’94 Northwestern University & ’04 Chicago College of Performing Arts), Vice Rector

Hungarian folk evening with the Sarjú Band and Historical Gypsy Music and Dinner

 
DAY 3

Visit to Eszterházy Károly Catholic University in Eger: Campus Tour, Archdiocese Library, Roma Residential College, University Winery, Innoregio Knowledge Center: Ilona Tari, Rector; Kálmán Váczy, Vice Rector; Györgyi Kovács Majorosné, Office for Int’l Relations Head

City walk, Observatory, Eger Castle, Egerszalók Salt Hill

 
DAY 4

Visit to University of Miskolc, Campus Tour: Péter Galbács (’18 University of Chicago)

Lecture on Social and Historical Overview of the Region: Virág Havasi and Attila Papp, Institute of Applied Social Sciences

Miskolctapolca, Cave Bath, Lillafüred

 
DAY 5

Visit to University of Debrecen: Elek Bartha, Vice Rector

UD Faculty of Humanities: Péter Csatár, Vice Dean and Gábor Biczó

UD Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Environmental Management and Economics: László Stündl, Dean; Péter Kőmíves and Troy Wiwczaroski

Mead making and tasting: Valter Pfliegler (’19 Harvard University), Faculty of Science and Technology

Hortobágy, Mátai Stud farm, Puszta Tour by horse carriage, Tiszaszőlős Falusi Patika Distillery

 
Read the blog post of a participant, Olivia Adinolfi, a student from East Tennessee State University.

Fulbright Hungary held its annual Pre-Departure Orientation and farewell cruise for 35 Hungarian Fulbrighters selected for grants during Academic Year 2024-25.

The Commission said goodbye to US scholars and students the same day, May 10, 2024, during the cruise.

The class of 2024-25 has 35 members and includes 2 Humphrey Fellows on the way to Arizona State University and Penn State / 16 students from all types of fields / 1 Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) / 15 scholars (4 lecturers and 11 researchers) and 1 Fulbright Schuman Program grantee.
A large proportion of these grantees came from the University of Szeged, Eötvös Loránd University and Budapest University of Technolgy and Economics. All in all, 19 different public institutions, universities, private firms and research organizations are represented including the Hungarian Defense Forces, and each person comes from a different academic field.

The students and scholars are headed to the following public and private universities in the US: Bard / UC Berkeley / Texas A&M U / NYU / UCLA / U of Minnesota / U of Hawaii / Michigan State U / Virginia Polytechnic Inst / Yale / U of Rhode Island / U of Wisconsin / California State Polytechnic U / U of Texas / UCSB / Adelphi U / U of Alaska / IU Bloomington / Columbia / Metropolitan State U of Denver / U of Maryland / U of Utah / West Virginia U / U of Arizona / Arizona State U / Alliant Int U / U of Denver / U of Pittsburgh / U of Virginia / Oregon State U / U of North Texas / BYU.

Pre-Departure Orientation program

• Opening remarks by PAO Jonas D. Stewart, U.S. Embassy
• Cultural adaptation- How to prepare? Tips and tricks by Nóra Petneházy (’22)
• Visa Application by Nathan J. Shuler, Consular Officer, U.S. Embassy
• Practical Issues for Fulbright Grantees on Travelling to the U.S. by Fulbright staff
• Cultural and Educational Differences between the U.S. and Hungary by Patrick Leech (’23) and Sabrina Pasztor (’23)
• Experiences and Practical Advice of 8 Former Fulbright Grantees

A separate mini-orientation was held on May 30 for 5 grantees who could not attend the regular orientation.

Congratulations and we look forward to hearing about the great things they will do during their grant years.

The Bulgarian Fulbright Commission hosted a meeting between March 13-15, 2024 for Program Officers from all over Europe, representing 23 different countries, to foster the exchange of best practices and a foundation for continuing collaboration, networking and knowledge-sharing. During the sessions led by staff members across the continent, participants heard about well-honed strategies for success and shared about any common challenges, experiences and insights they face together.

Thank you Fulbright Bulgaria for hosting and welcoming our staff members!