Embassy News

U.S. Embassy and GE Foundation Acknowledge Student Accomplishments

Ambassador Walker (middle) with the winners of the scholarship program

At GE Foundation's scholarship award ceremony on January 30, 2006, Ambassador Walker honored fifteen Hungarian university student winners of the "GE Foundation Scholar-Leaders in Hungary 2005-2006" program. The students, representing five Hungarian universities (Corvinus University of Budapest, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, University of Pécs, University of Miskolc, and University of Veszprém) received merit-based scholarships for their outstanding academic achievements, community work and future leadership potential.

The scholarships, awarded for the fourth time, are supported by GE Foundation, General Electric's philanthropic foundation. Established in 1954, it aims to improve quality and accessibility of education and to strengthen community service in countries where GE works. Last year the foundation spent 20 million dollars to support education.

Acting as GE Foundation's representative, the Institute of International Education organized the recruitment and selection of the most talented students in the region. IIE, an experienced global higher education and professional exchange agency, serves Europe from its Budapest office established in 1990 and works in the fields of higher education, scholarship administration and English language assessment.

Ambassador Walker congratulated the students for their achievements and GE for its good corporate citizenship and good governance. He emphasized that GE's scholarship program represented responsibility for the community, and such corporate behavior was highly appreciated by the Embassy. "This program represents the most important American values: excellence, support of leadership ability and serving the community," said Ambassador Walker, and also motivated the students by saying that "to whom much is given, much can be expected."

Director GE Energy's Hungarian branch Kennedy Oates emphasized that the support of students helped to set up a network of young Central European intellectuals, which could play a significant role in the development of the region. Chief Executive Officer of the American Chamber of Commerce Peter Fáth and Political State Secretary of the Hungarian Ministry of Education Gergely Arató also acknowledged the importance of the award, drew the students' attention to the opportunities before them and wished success and great stamina in their future studies and career.