The U.S. Department of State recently awarded UHD alumnus Chris Graves with one of its prestigious 2013-2014 Fulbright scholarships to study philosophy at Heidelberg University in Germany.

According to the Fulbright Program, an international educational exchange sponsored by the U.S. government, Graves is one of the more than 1,700 U.S. citizens granted a one-year fellowship to study in more than 155 participating countries this year. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is designed to enhance mutual understanding between Americans and people of other countries.

"With his 4.0 grade point average and proven leadership qualities, Chris' record clearly speaks for itself," said Jeffrey Jackson, interim chair of the Department of Social Sciences. "I am proud of this great achievement, which is a reflection of Chris' abilities and of UHD's strong academic programs."

Graves earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy at UHD and then completed a bachelor's degree in German at The University of Texas at Austin. He was chosen by the late Susan Ahern, former dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, to provide the student commencement address at his 2009 graduation ceremony.

"I am greatly indebted to the UHD faculty for helping me to become the kind of student who is able to win such an award," said Graves. "I am especially grateful for Drs. Sharin Elkholy, Jeffrey Jackson, Andrew Pavelich and Joseph Westfall in the Philosophy Department; Drs. Jon Harned and Dagmar Scharold in the English Department; and Dr. David Ryden in the History Department for their invaluable support."

The Fulbright Program recently distributed a press release announcing Graves' scholarship and chronicling the success of former Fulbright scholars, including 44 Nobel Prize winners and 78 Pulitzer Prize recipients.

UHD alumnus Chris Graves (center), who provided the student commencement address at his 2009 graduation, recently was awarded a prestigious Fulbright scholarship.