Student to follow star writers with study in US

Second-year student Nicola Orridge, 26, has been awarded a scholarship from the Fulbright Commission to study at Eastern Washington University for two months over the university summer holidays.

She is one of only two education studies students in the UK to be accepted onto the programme, which sets up academic exchanges between the US and UK to promote leadership, learning and empathy between the two countries.

Notable alumni of the Fulbright Awards Programme include politician Charles Kennedy, poet Sylvia Plath and novelist Ian Rankin, and 39 Fulbright alumni have also received the Nobel Prize.

Ms Orridge, who hopes to have a career in the education sector when she graduates, said: "I am looking forward to experiencing a new culture and seeing how the education system works in America and how it varies from the UK.

"While I am in the US I will take part in several academic and cultural activities and I feel I will gain a great deal from the experience.

"I believe every child should have a firm understanding and tolerance of other beliefs and cultures, and I intend to share the knowledge and appreciation I gain from this experience in any future role as an educator."

Michael Scott-Kline, director of the Fulbright Awards Programme, added: "We're thrilled to be working with such a large and diverse group and look forward to supporting them in their exciting Fulbright year ahead."