The University of Michigan once again ranked first in the nation in the number of U.S. Department of State Fulbright Student grantees. This is the fourth time since 2005 that U-M has emerged as the leader in the prestigious national fellowship competition.This year’s top producers of Fulbright students include U-M with 39, Yale University with 31, Brown and Stanford universities each with 24, and the University of Chicago with 23.Fulbright U.S. Student award recipients spend six to 12 months participating in research, study, or an English teaching assistantship abroad. U-M’s grantees will represent the university in 24 countries.”The number of our Fulbright grants speaks to the caliber of our students and their passion for international research and study,” said Ken Kollman, acting director of the U-M International Institute and acting vice provost for international affairs. “Our success in earning these reflects Michigan’s commitment to fostering global and cultural exchanges.”The Fulbright Program is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. It operates in more than 155 countries worldwide. More than 1,600 U.S. students received grants for the 2010-2011 academic year.At the U-M International Institute, staff members are available to advise students and faculty regarding opportunities in four of the Fulbright Program’s 11 grant categories.”These students have worked tremendously hard to prepare their projects, and we are very proud to have them represent U-M across the globe,” said Kelly Peckens, who heads Fulbright Program advising at the institute. “Our grantees are researching some of the world’s most pressing issues with optimism and sensitivity.”A total of 43 U-M students were offered a Fulbright U.S. Student grant, but four declined to pursue other opportunities. The number of offers is the highest in U-M’s history.