Post and photos by Elio Leturia
ON THURSDAY MARCH 6, the Fulbright Association-Chicago Chapter and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs (CCGA) welcomed over 150 guests for the much-anticipated 2025 Fulbright Chicago Extravaganza. Held at the CCGA headquarters, overlooking the iconic Millennium Park, the evening was a celebration of community service, empowerment, intercultural learning, and professional growth—values that both organizations share.
Photo by Kate Vergara
The event began with a warm welcome from Sarah Breen Bartecki, Senior Vice President of Business and Program Development and Chief Revenue Officer at CCGA. She introduced the Chicago Council on Global Affairs as a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering community members to help create a more open and promising world for all.
Ms. Bartecki then welcomed Ariel Schwartz, Executive Director of Global Leadership Programs, who expanded on the organization’s mission. She highlighted CCGA’s commitment to fostering leadership in foreign policy and global affairs while encouraging responsible community engagement and collaboration. Schwartz emphasized the importance of mobilizing, energizing, and empowering global citizens through facilitation and community-building—helping a diverse pool of participants confront and solve challenges to achieve transformative outcomes.
Following her remarks, Dr. Chris Graves, principal of Jordan Community Elementary School and a Fulbright award recipient, took the stage. His heartfelt talk bridged the work of Fulbright and CCGA, emphasizing his commitment to collaboration, equity, and student success. Graves shared how his school and his work serving newcomer students and their families, has been a source of inspiration for his work in education. Graves has been 2023 Chicago Council on Global Affairs Emerging Leaders Program, and a 2024 Fulbright Global Award recipient.
One of the evening’s most engaging segments was the Five-Minute Fulbright, curated by Fulbright Chicago board member Dr. Kate Vergara. In this fast-paced and dynamic session, five selected Fulbright scholars shared their global experiences—each in just five minutes. Dr. Vergara also asked the current cohort international Fulbright students and scholars who were attending, to stand up.
This year’s speakers, Sarah Kammerer, Laura Reiter, Jeanie Bukowski, Elanta Slowek, and Daria Tsoupikova, captivated the audience with vivid storytelling and engaging visuals from their projects abroad. Their presentations not only showcased the impact of the Fulbright program but also the power of cultural exchange and academic collaboration.
The evening concluded with a lively reception, where attendees reconnected, exchanged ideas, and strengthened their professional networks. The 2025 Fulbright Chicago Extravaganza proved to be more than just an event—it was a demonstration to the power of global learning, meaningful connections, and the shared commitment to making a difference in our interconnected world.
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FULBRIGHT CHICAGO 