Panel Discussion on U.S. Sports Scholarships

Remarks by
Ambassador Larry L. Palmer
at the U.S. Embassy

Good morning and welcome to today’s panel discussion on athletic scholarships to U.S. colleges and universities.

Whether you’re an athlete or a spectator, sports and athletics are an important part of college life in the United States.  Not just Americans, but people all across the globe follow every shot of the Final Four basketball championships, and eagerly anticipate the arrival of football season and its series of showdowns, or “bowls” like the Cotton Bowl, Sugar Bowl and Rose Bowl.

I know that many of you joining us today—both in the room and those watching online—hope to join the ranks of the many accomplished athletes, including our distinguished panelists, who graduated from U.S. colleges and universities. 

But maybe some of you feel a bit overwhelmed by the whole process and have a lot of questions: Will I get into a good university? What scholarships are available? Do I need to take the SAT?

Today, we have gathered an amazing panel of people with diverse experiences—Olympians, athletes, coaches, and a college administration professional—who will address these questions so that you can get started on your exciting journey toward earning a college degree in the United States.

In March last year, President Obama launched “100,000 Strong in the Americas,” an initiative that aims to foster region-wide prosperity through greater international exchange of students, who are our future leaders and innovators.  We at the U.S. Embassy to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean hope to see many of you among those 100,000 students at U.S. Colleges and Universities sprinting, swimming, shooting hoops, or scoring goals.

Thank you, and I hope you enjoy the discussion!