For Immediate Release Contact:
Barbara K. Laskin/ Doug Stone
May 17, 2005 (651) 696-6203

Birmingham, Mich., Native Awarded Fulbright Islamic Civilization Initiative to Syria;
Honors Graduate from Macalester College

St. Paul, Minn. - Roland D. McKay of Birmingham, Mich., has been awarded a Fulbright Islamic Civilization Initiative to Syria. This initiative is designed to enhance the knowledge and understanding of Islam and Islamic history and culture broadly defined. McKay graduated cum laude at Macalester College's 116th Commencement on campus May 14, 2005. Roland is the son of Nadine and Haden McKay of Birmingham, Mich., and graduated from Seaholm High School.

Fulbright grants are made to U.S. citizens and nationals of other countries for a variety of educational activities, primarily university lecturing, advanced research, graduate study and teaching in elementary and secondary schools. Since the program's inception, more than 250,000 participants --chosen for their leadership potential-- have had the opportunity to observe each other's political, economic and cultural institutions.

McKay will study what influence Islamic revivalism has had on religious content in Syrian public educational practice and how do we account for trends in public religious education in the context of Ba'athism.

A double major in political science and history, McKay was also honored at the annual Honors Convocation which recognizes select students for outstanding academic achievement, leadership and community service. He received the following honors/awards:

Hubert H. Humphrey and Walter F. Mondale Endowed Award in Political Science - Established to honor, respectively, a former member of the faculty and an alumnus whose careers exemplify the highest standards of scholarship and education for service to society. Awarded to the outstanding student or students majoring in political science.

PI SIGMA ALPHA - National Political Science honor society. Open to juniors and seniors who have completed a minimum of four Political Science courses, three at the intermediate level and above, and who have a grade point average of at least 3.5 in Political Science and 3.2 overall.

In 2004, McKay also won the Thomas J. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship from the Department of State.

During Commencement, Macalester College President Brian Rosenberg presented diplomas to 460 graduating seniors. Edward Hirsch, prize-winning poet, scholar, teacher and foundation president, gave the keynote address.

Macalester is a private or national liberal arts college with a full-time enrollment of 1,845 students. Macalester is nationally recognized for its long-standing commitment to academic excellence, internationalism, diversity and civic engagement.

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