Photo Left: UNT VP for International Affairs, Dr. Richard Nader shakes hands with Secretary John Kerry and VP Joe Biden at the 100k Strong in the Americas announcement of grant.

DENTON (UNT), Texas ¾ The University of North Texas is among the first group of U.S. higher education institutions selected to receive grants as part of President Obama's 100,000 Strong in the Americas initiative. During the announcement in Washington, D.C., Secretary of State John Kerry revealed the four U.S. higher education institutions selected for the grants http://www.dvidshub.net/video/319884/sec-kerry-keynote-address-100000- strong-americas-partnership-launch#.Utmsk8Qo408.

UNT will use the $60,000 grant to support approximately 30 undergraduate and 20 graduate U.S. students participating each year in field courses, research and internshipsin Chile, including at the pristine UNESCO Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve at the southern end of the Americas. These resources will more than triple the number of students participating in UNT's existing Tracing Darwin's Path study abroad course.

"UNT should be very proud as only four institutions in the United States were selected from among more than 100 applications," said Dr. Richard Nader, vice provost for international affairs. "UNT's Sub-Antarctic Bio-cultural Conservation Program (SBCP) was selected because of its thoughtful coupling of science with sustainability, and because of our excellent partners in Chile. Kudos go to Dr. Rozzi and the SBCP."

The goal of 100,000 Strong in the Americas is to increase the number of U.S. students studying in Latin America and the Caribbean to 100,000, and the number of Latin American and Caribbean students studying in the United States to 100,000. Through these exchanges, students will improve their language skills; experience learning, living, and doing hands-on research abroad; and position themselves for a competitive advantage in their careers as global leaders, professionals, and citizens.

The other U.S. winners are: the University of Arizona, the University of Rhode Island and Northampton Community College. Up to 10 more higher education institutions in Latin America will be announced in the coming weeks as winners in this first round of competitive grants, selected as part of a separate competition supported with U.S. Department of State funding.

Dr. Francisca Massardo, UNT's Chilean partner representative from the UMAG and IEB, shakes hands with State Secretary John Kerry at the 100K Strong in the Americas announcement of grant.

Back row, left to right: Dr. Mary Poulton, University of Arizona, Mr. Bennett Johnston, Louisiana Senator, Vice President, Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry, Mr. Rodney Akerson, President and CEO of Freeport Johnston, Dr. Rodrigo Pascual, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Santiago, Chile, Dr. Orlando Vélasquez Benites, Univ ersidad Nacional de Trujillo, Peru .

Front row, left to right: Dr. Mark Erickson, Northampton Community College, Dr. Richard Nader, University of North Texas, Dr. Winifred Brownell, University of Rhode Island, Mr. Nelson Vasquez, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Chile, Dr. Francisca Massardo, Universidad de Magallanes - Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Chile.

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**UNT**

As the nation's 24th largest public university and the most comprehensive in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, UNT is dedicated to providing an excellent educational experience to its 36,000 students while powering the North Texas region, state and nation through innovative education and research. A student-focused public research university with an emphasis on sustainability, UNT has 12 colleges and schools offering 97 bachelor's, 81 master's and 35 doctoral degree programs, many nationally and internationally recognized.