FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 13, 2025

National Eagle Scout Association – Pittsburgh Chapter Board Member Awarded Fulbright Scholarship

PITTSBURGH, PA – The National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) – Pittsburgh Chapter is proud to share that one of our own, Board Member Michael Sipper, has been awarded a prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Award to Azerbaijan for the 2025–2026 academic year.

Michael is a distinguished graduate of the University of Pittsburgh Honors College, where he completed degrees in Political Science, Economics, and Turkish in just two years. His academic journey, marked by remarkable rigor and global focus, now continues with his selection as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA)—making him the first student from the University of Pittsburgh to receive a Fulbright placement in Azerbaijan.

Michael’s Fulbright award is part of the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program, designed to foster mutual understanding and collaboration between nations. As a Fulbright recipient, Michael joins an elite group of alumni that includes Nobel Laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and global leaders.

This honor is just one of many that Michael has recently received. Within the span of a single year, he has earned an extraordinary eight national-level scholarships. Among them:

• The Boren Scholarship from the U.S. Department of Defense for advanced Turkish studies

• The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) for immersive language learning

• A coveted summer fellowship with the American Research Institute in Türkiye, held at Boğaziçi Üniversitesi—known as the “Harvard of Türkiye”

Michael’s exceptional achievements reflect not only his academic excellence and international leadership, but also the core values of service, determination, and initiative that define the Eagle Scout legacy.

On behalf of the entire NESA – Pittsburgh Chapter, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Michael and celebrate this inspiring milestone in his journey.

SipperFulbrightScholar_5132025.pdf

Contact:
National Eagle Scout Association – Pittsburgh Chapter
secretary@nesa-pgh.org
www.nesa-pgh.org