Ambassador Tefft Hosts Humphrey Alumni for a Reunion Event
Ambassador John Tefft greeted the five Humphrey program alumni and the two 2008-2009 finalists at his residence for the first Humphrey reunion event. Public Affairs Officer, Cynthia Whittlesey, and Cultural Affairs Assistant, Sophie Bzishvili, also attended. Participants had an excellent opportunity to meet with one another and share impressions about the program and their time in the U.S. Ambassador Tefft answered a number of alumni’s questions related to the U.S.-Georgian relationship, Georgia’s foreign policy, conflict zones and Georgia’s integration into NATO. At the end of the event, Ambassador Tefft presented certificates to the two most recent alumni - Mr. Gela Kvashilava and Mr. Kakha Karchkhadze - for the successful completion of the Hubert Humphrey program.
The Humphrey Program was initiated in 1978 to honor the memory and accomplishments of the late Senator and Vice President, Hubert H. Humphrey. This one-year, full scholarship program is offered to mid-career professionals who have a proven track record of leadership, a commitment to public service, and the capacity to take full advantage of a self-defined program of independent study at a leading U.S. university. The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy has been administering this program in Georgia since 2002.
| 
