U.S. Consul General Meets With Students
On July 5, U.S. Consul General Karen Grissette hosted a special #StudyWithUS reception to celebrate and recognize students admitted to colleges and universities in the United States.
A spokesperson said, “The Consul General welcomed high school graduates admitted into U.S. colleges and universities this year, undergraduates and recent alumni of U.S. institutions, parents and school counselors, to ‘Cedarhurst’, the Consul General’s Official Residence, to celebrate the students’ successes and decision to study in the United States.
“High school graduates accepted into U.S. colleges and universities represented The Berkeley Institute, CedarBridge Academy, Bermuda High School, Bermuda Institute, Warwick Academy, Saltus Grammar School and Somersfield Academy.
“The Consul General was delighted to hear students have received numerous U.S. college acceptances, scholarships, and strong financial aid packages. The event was one more element of the Consulate’s Study With “US” campaign, which reinforces the longstanding educational exchange ties between the United States and Bermuda and highlights the accessible and affordable pathways to study in the United States.
“Current undergraduates and recent alumni of U.S. institutions who participated in the Consulate’s education campaign networked with their peers and discussed their U.S. education experiences, highlighting the opportunities to participate in student-led organizations, the flexibility of changing their course load or major, and the diversity of the on-campus community. “It is exciting and rewarding to meet students taking advantage of the many U.S. university opportunities available. We love to hear when a Bermudian student has found a school that’s right for them,” said U.S. Consul General Karen Grissette.
“During this event, I met students pursuing a range of majors including aviation engineering, business, criminology, dance performance, English, environmental science, marketing, veterinary studies and risk management.”
“I am so impressed by the range of great schools students are attending, including Penn State University, Colby College, Plymouth State University, Kay University, Elon University, George Mason University, Southern Adventist University, Thomas College, St. John’s University, Boston Conservatory, University of Vermont, DePauw University, Sweet Briar College, Florida International University, Georgia State University and others. Several students shared their enthusiasm about attending HBCUs including Spelman College, Howard University, Oakwood University and North Carolina A&T.
“The “StudyWithUS” Campaign is definitely getting the word out, and information about internships, work experience and scholarships shared through our education campaign videos has made a difference,” said Consul General Grissette. “Prospective students have heard directly from their peers about achieving educational and professional goals by choosing the United States for their studies. We have also received requests from U.S. schools seeking to attract students from Bermuda and develop formal agreements and relationships with the relevant education stakeholders on island. Government, business and non-profit contacts continue to share scholarship opportunities with the Consulate.”
The Consul General shared that she has engaged with several scholarship recipients who decided to further their studies at one of the 4,500 institutions of higher learning in the United States.
=She noted, “Alumni of U.S. institutions create lifelong connections with those schools and communities, and we are delighted that more students are choosing the United States when they think about expanding their educational goals. The strong ties between Bermuda and the United States make U.S. education a wonderful choice for many students.”
A spokesperson added, “The U.S. Consulate continues to release student and alumni stories and spotlight videos on social media and on the Consulate’s website. All spotlight videos were created by Bermudian videographer Marq Rodriguez in consultation with the U.S. Consulate.
“#StudyWithUS provides information on pathways to pursue higher education through EducationUSA, a U.S. Department of State network of over 430 international student advising centers in more than 175 countries and territories and online at EducationUSA.gov. The network promotes U.S. higher education to students around the world, offers information about opportunities to study at accredited postsecondary institutions in the United States, and provides services to students and their families focused on topics including the admissions process, standardized testing requirements and how to finance a U.S. education. The U.S. Consulate can provide information about the student visa process and preparing for departure to the United States.
“If you are a current student or alumni of a U.S. college or university and would like to participate in the campaign, please contact Public Diplomacy Assistant Camille Haley [HaleyCS@state.gov]
“”For information about student visas and Bermuda’s special visa exemption, visit: https://bm.usconsulate.gov/ or contact hamiltonconsulate@state.gov.”
