US students win Sunderland scholarships as Washington DC links grow

TWO AMERICAN STUDENTS are set to start studying at Sunderland University – part of a move to forge ever stronger links between Washington DC and Washington, Tyne & Wear.

William Kellibrew IV from the University of the District of Columbia, and Elizabeth Hill from George Washington University will become the first American students to take up Washington Scholarship places at Sunderland under the Friendship Agreement.

Sunderland is the first European non-capital city to sign a Friendship Agreement with Washington DC.

Since the signing considerable progress has been made in establishing new economic, educational and cultural links between the two cities.

Professor Peter Fidler, Vice Chancellor of Sunderland University, Tom Hurst, the City Council's Chief Investment Officer, and Catherine Auld, Senior Liaison and Policy Officer, recently met the pioneering American scholarship students.

The delegation attended the launch of the partnership between the University of Sunderland and the University of the District of Columbia. A range of activities will link the two universities; the arrival of William and Elizabeth marks the beginning of this partnership.

Vice Chancellor of Sunderland University Peter Fidler said: "We are delighted to have the opportunity to welcome William and Elizabeth to our university and our city in the autumn. I am confident that their time with us will be the beginning of a significant and special relationship between our universities. 

“I am sure they will be great ambassadors for the Friendship Agreement between Sunderland and Washington DC."

Sunderland officers - including representatives from the Washington DC Economic Partnership, the DC Chamber of Commerce, the Washington Glass School, the Mayor's Office, DC Public Schools, university and tourism personnel - also held a series of discussions with Washington DC officials to look at ways of developing the ever-growing links between the two cities.