On Friday, May 11, the U.S. Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam, Craig Allen, hosted an alumni event at his residence attended by more than 80 alumni of U.S. government exchange programs from Brunei Darussalam.
The event brought together alumni from various exchange programs, including the Fulbright Program, the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), the Southeast Asian Leaders Youth Leadership Program (SEAYLP), the Study of U.S. Institutes program (SUSI), the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), and more.
In his remarks, Ambassador Allen noted, “As U.S. exchange program alumni, you all represent an important and direct connection between our two countries and, without a doubt, will strengthen U.S.-Brunei relations for many years to come. By generating and sustaining personal contact, a strong alumni network is perhaps the best foundation for positive relations between countries…. In the years to come, I hope you remain a diverse and vibrant alumni group that continues to contribute to Brunei, to Southeast Asia, and to the U.S.-Brunei connection.”
During the event, the embassy launched “Celebrating Alumni Stories,” a commemorative book containing the personal testimonials of over 70 U.S. exchange program alumni from Brunei Darussalam, and a video including one-on- one interviews of a few of those same alumni. The U.S. Embassy believes in the value of sharing personal experiences as a way to inspire others and strengthen the U.S.-Brunei relationship.
To find out more about U.S. government exchange program opportunities, visit:
https://bn.usembassy.gov/education-culture/ .
To download the “Celebrating Alumni Stories” commemorative book, click here [21MB]. You can also watch our “Celebrating Alumni Stories” video here.
