Gustavus Adolphus College

Matt Forbes '06 becomes the first Minnesota student to participate in the Fulbright International Summer Institute (FISI).

By Megan Wille '05

Selected to take part in the Fulbright International Summer Institute (FISI), Gustavus senior Matt Forbes is spending two weeks in Pamporovo, Bulgaria. Matt joins students from throughout the world for two weeks of seminars on international relations.

A political science and religion major from Bloomington, Minn., Matt says, "It is a great out-of-classroom experience, talking about international politics, European relations and American foreign policy." Open to undergraduate and graduate students, as well as professors and professionals, the Bulgarian-American Fulbright Commission created the program in 2002. Matt is the first student from Minnesota to participate in the program.

Matt's Fulbright participation is among an already long list of involvement at Gustavus. He interned in Senator Mark Dayton's office in Washington, D.C., last fall, volunteers with St. Peter Head Start, is a member of the political science honor society, sings with the Gustavus Choir, helped start the Men's Christian Fellowship group on campus. and is a founder of the Student Faith Advocates. Matt has also been a member of Student Senate since his first year and last year he fought to save student money on textbooks. This summer Matt worked on the Steve Kelly for Governor Campaign and also found time to run in Grandma's marathon in Duluth. After graduating in 2006, Matt plans to attend law school, focusing on international law.

Students and professors from throughout the world participated in the program, running August 1-13, 2005.