Albert Manero, a 2014 U.S. Student to Germany, is also the President, CEO, and co-founder of Limbitless Solutions, a nonprofit organization that creates and donates bionic arms to children with limb differences. The organization aims to provide affordable prosthetics to families and give kids a way to express themselves.
Dr. Francisco Javier Solana de Madariaga, a Spanish physicist and politician, has used his professional career in academia and government to advocate for international cooperation among European nations, the United States, and the world.
Ambassador Thomas R. Pickering, a retired U.S. diplomat whose career has spanned four decades, has advanced diplomacy and mutual understanding around the world. He holds the title of Career Ambassador, the highest title in the U.S. Foreign Service; speaks five languages and holds the 2002 Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy Award from the American Foreign Service Association.
Over the course of her 20-plus year career as a journalist and diplomat, Bay Fang has never wavered in her belief in the importance of a free and independent press as an empowering force. Her experiences on the ground, including her 1995 Fulbright U.S. Student award to Hong Kong researching Asia-Pacific economic cooperation (APEC), positioned her on the front lines of the fight to protect free and independent media.
Dr. Harrison Schmitt was the first scientist on a U.S. spaceflight and is one of only 12 people to set foot on the moon. As part of the Apollo 17 crew, Dr. Schmitt landed in the Moon’s Valley of Taurus-Littrow on December 11, 1972, and collected more than 240 pounds of lunar rock samples to bring back to Earth. His unique career as an astronaut, geologist, and U.S. senator was built upon the cornerstone of his Fulbright experience.
Dr. Zahi Hawass is a witness to history. A renowned archaeologist, Egyptian government official, and public intellectual, Dr. Hawass received his Ph.D. in Egyptology in 1987 from the University of Pennsylvania, where he also earned a master’s degree as a Fulbrighter, which Dr. Hawass believes “changed [his] life,” making him a good Egyptologist with a “vision for the future.”
Hiba Dlewati was born in Flint, Michigan, and grew up in Damascus, Syria. After seeing the devastating impact of war, Dlewati decided to focus on sharing the personal stories of those affected by political upheaval. She has covered the Syrian conflict and refugee crisis from 10 countries as a multimedia journalist and producer.
Maaza Mengiste — author of “The Shadow King,” which was named Best Book of the Year and shortlisted for the Booker Prize — writes about war, violence, and migration from the perspective of individuals often forgotten by the historical record.
Lucien Bourjeily is a writer, director, producer, and actor whose films have been critically acclaimed worldwide. His skill at bringing stories to life on stage and screen drives him to find innovative ways to create immersive experiences for his audiences.
Dr. Muhammad Yunus’ lifelong dedication to empowering the world’s poor made him one of his generation’s most celebrated economists and the recipient of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize (jointly awarded with Grameen Bank).