Charge d'Affaires John McIntyre presenting some Fulbright publications to selected scholar Hj Sofi Hasni.

The US Ambassador in Brunei, William Todd, recently announced that Hj Sofi Hasni Hj Sharbini has been selected to receive the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship for 2009.

Hj Sofi, the sixth Fulbright Scholar from Brunei to pursue graduate education in the US since the programme's reactivation in 2004, will be leaving mid-August to begin a two-year Masters Degree in Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Management at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York.

Sofi completed his undergraduate degree from the University of Robert Gordon, Aberdeen, United Kingdom, and more recently he was working for Petroleum Brunei as its Health and Safety Environment Officer. Charge d' Affaires, a.i., John McIntyre met with Sofi prior to his departure and commented:

"On behalf of Ambassador Todd, we are delighted that Sofi is pursuing his goals of studying HSE management in the US. The Fulbright committee was very impressed by Sofi's commitment to Brunei and his desire to bring best practices in the field of Health, Safety and Environment Management back to the Sultanate.

Mr McIntyre is pictured with Sofi and his family members. - PHOTOS COURTESY: US EMBASSY

"The Fulbright scholarship provides an opportunity not only for academic achievements, but also to learn more about living and studying in the United States. We are especially pleased that Sofi's family will be joining him in the US."

Having been selected for the Fulbright award from a highly competitive pool of applicants, a process that started one year ago, Sofi was thankful for the honour of representing Brunei as a Fulbright scholar.

He was also proud to gain entrance into the prestigious RIT, which was at the top of Sofi's list for US universities. During a courtesy call with US Charge d'Affaries, a.i., Sofi said, "I feel truly fortunate that I was selected and even more fortunate that I got into Rochester Institute of Technology for a Masters programme in Environmental, Health and Safety.

"The programme has had more than 10 years to develop since it began back in 1997. I hope that with such a qualification, I could contribute to the development of Health, Safety and Environmental Management for the country in general and for the national oil company, Petroleum Brunei.

"I would also like to take the opportunity to convey my heartfelt thanks to the US Embassy, especially Mr McIntyre and Ms Shova Thapa, for their continued cooperation and assistance throughout the application process and beyond.

"The Fulbright Scholarship, combined with the financial support of my parents, has enabled me to bring along my family with me to the States. I would also like to show my appreciation to Petroleum Brunei for providing other forms of support."

The Fulbright programme is one of academic exchange for the promotion of global understanding. Scholarship awards for the Fulbright Graduate Study Programme are offered to citizens and permanent residents of Brunei to allow them to pursue a graduate degree in the US.

Former Fulbright Scholarship recipients include Pg Dr Hishamuddin Pg DP Hj Badaruddin, Mohamed Yusra Mohd Salleh, Vivi Jafiana DP Hj Jaafar, Zul Fakhri Maidy and Salehkamal Hj Badarudin. For more information, visit the US Embassy website at http://brunei.usembassy.gov. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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