Have Fulbright, will travel.

Kenmore native and political science major Thomas Elliott (class of 2011) is one of three Whittier College (California) students who have been awarded the prestigious award to travel overseas for a 10-month time period to conduct research and/or teach English.

Elliott, who will teach English and carry out a photography project in Brazil, graduated cum laude with academic distinction in his major on May 13.

As a 2010-11 Keck Undergraduate Fellow, he conducted fieldwork within an Aymara/Quechua community near La Paz, Bolivia. He divided his time doing archival research in the city and attending meetings, rituals and participating in the daily life of the community.

“I got to dance in rituals that have been practiced since before the conquest and had to speak three different languages while there — Spanish, Quechua and Aymara. I can hold my own in Quechua,” said Elliott about his fieldwork experience.

As a final project, he produced a written article accompanied by photographs taken during his fieldwork in the community.

“We are proud to have three Fulbright scholars this year who will be participating in vital international study and research. This award recognizes the outstanding work of our students and their faculty mentors. Moreover, five of our students were finalists for Fulbright awards — quite an accomplishment,” said Whittier President Sharon Herzberger.

The Fulbright Program, established in 1946 by the late U.S. Sen. J. William Fulbright, is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government. It is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and of other countries.