Douglas County High School International Baccalaureate Program graduate Cameron Rice recently returned from Madrid, Spain, after receiving the prestigious Fulbright scholarship.

Rice, a 2019 graduate from DCHS, served in Fulbright's English Teaching Assistant program in Madrid, helping to facilitate English classes.

Administered by the U.S. Department of State, the Fulbright Program is one of the nation's most prestigious international exchange initiatives. The program supports students, scholars and professionals as they engage in academic and cultural exchange in more than 140 countries around the world.

"This journey has been so enlightening in a number of ways, showing me parts of Spanish culture I had only heard of, and offering a unique blend of cultural and professional experiences I get to navigate in English and Spanish," said Rice, who earned his bachelor's degree in Spanish Language and Literature and his master's degree in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution from Kennesaw State University.

He added that he is most proud of teaching Model United Nations classes to 14- and 15-year-olds at his school in Madrid and collaborating with the Robert and Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center for a project called "Speak Truth to Power," during which he taught a group of younger students about human rights, specifically their right to education.

"Through this experience, I've really solidified my belief in the power of international exchange, and making the world seem less scary through these opportunities," he said. "Some of our most powerful experiences are right outside our comfort zones, and getting to be at the front of that charge into different cultures and experiences to create something new is something I'll never take for granted."

"This experience has informed a lot of what I want to do professionally as well, as I seek to work in international education, facilitating these life-changing experiences for others, and use these experiences to inform my efforts in the nonprofit space," he said.