Stephen Fry, a British author, actor, and comedian, will offer four undergraduates £2,500 travel grants. The Stephen Fry Travel Awards will be presented to four University of East Anglia American Studies students (UEA).
Beginning in September, applicants from the four-year degree program that includes a year abroad will be able to apply for the scholarship.
Fry stated,
“I am investing in the next generation of intellectuals who will go on to achieve great things.”
In 1999, Fry, who grew up in Norfolk, was awarded an honorary doctorate by the UEA.
Not only is he famed for his acerbic wit, but also for his love of the United States, which he chronicled in a BBC television series and a book on his travels in a London taxi across the continent’s 50 states.
“America as a nation is both extremely familiar and utterly foreign to us,” he remarked.
“Travel broadens the mind, introduces us to fresh and rich experiences, and helps to dispel preconceived notions.
“In the end, it makes us more knowledgeable and well-rounded individuals. My experiences traveling across the United States have shown me how crucial it is for others to do so.”
Fry added:
“Due to the expense, many young people may be discouraged from spending a year abroad as part of their degree program.
“I hope that I can motivate and assist more young people to explore this huge and beautiful nation on their own.”
Dr. Rachael McLennan, dean of the faculty of art, media, and American studies at the University of East Anglia, stated that the year abroad is an integral part of American Studies.
“This will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the fortunate recipients of Stephen’s travel rewards, which is doubly significant in light of the current cost-of-living issue.”
Recent celebrities who have supported university students include artist Stormzy, who supports 30 Black students of mixed origin at Cambridge University.
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