FoFF Events 2021-Upcoming

Return to listing of all FoFF events.

Alumni Meet-up at the Embassy of Finland, Washington D.C., May 30, 2023

Friends of Fulbright Finland were hosted by Science and Education Counselor, Dr. Petri Koikkalainen, and Cultural Counselor & Head of Cultural Affairs Suvi Järvelä-Hagström for an informal conversation over coffee and refreshments at the Embassy of Finland in Washington, DC.

They were also taken on a tour of the Embassy building, including its famous diplomatic sauna. The event was an opportunity to network and to talk about potential collaboration opportunities. The event brought together alumni from multiple grant years and programs and from across the United States. 

The event was jointly hosted by the Finnish Embassy and the Fulbright Finland Foundation. CEO Terhi Mölsä and Communication Specialist Maija Kettunen from the Foundation attended the event.

Three photos from Friends of Fulbright Finland get-together at the Finnish Embassy in D.C. The first one is taken from the Embassy's outdoor patio, with people looking at the green forest surrounding them. The middle photo features a group photo taken at a staircase at the Embassy. The third photo has three people, one of them in the front is explaining something, while the other two look at the first one with smiles on their faces.

FoFF Welcome Network, Virtual, May 8, 2023

The Council of the Friends of Fulbright Finland FoFF, together with alumni from the Welcome Network, hosted a virtual welcome event for the 2023-24 U.S. grantees on May 8, 2023. Council member Kelsea Turner moderated the event, and grantees were matched with alumni in two breakout rooms, the first room divided by grant program, and the second room divided by host cities. The event was highly appreciated by the grantees and alumni alike.

The  Welcome Network is a group of alumni living in the U.S. dedicated to helping incoming and outgoing Fulbright Finland Foundation grantees. If you have questions or would like to join the network please see the Finnish Fulbright Welcome Network website.

Photo of the Welcome event 2023 participants in Zoom

Alumni Get-Together at the Marimekko Exhibition, Philadelphia, PA, March 29, 2023

On March 29, 2023, the Fulbright Finland alumni and current Finnish grantees in Philadelphia area participated in Marimekko exhibition opening at the American Swedish Historical Museum to meet one another over Finnish treats. The Consul General from New York City, Ambassador Jarmo Sareva participated in the event as well.

FoFF Welcome Network, Virtual, June 14, 2022 

On June 14, the FoFF Council in collaboration with the Foundation organized a Welcome Event for the 2022-23 U.S. grantees and members of the Finnish Fulbright Welcome Network. The event brought together 45 alumni and 2022-23 grantees from around the U.S. and Europe!

The virtual event, organized for the second time, created an opportunity for alumni to share their tips, tricks and expertise for the grantees as they prepare for their departure to Finland during the 2022-23 academic year. During the event the participants were divided into two rounds of break-out rooms; the first was based on grant programs and the second according to their host city in Finland. This enabled more small group discussions and provided the opportunity to share program and city specific tips.

The  Welcome Network is a group of alumni living in the U.S. dedicated to helping incoming and outgoing Fulbright Finland Foundation grantees. If you have questions or would like to join the network please see the Finnish Fulbright Welcome Network website.

Screen capture of the participants of the Welcome Event

Alumni Meet-up at the Embassy of Finland, Washington D.C., May 23, 2022

Friends of Fulbright Finland were hosted for a conversation over lunch at the Embassy of Finland in Washington, DC. In addition to networking, the event was an opportunity to get to know the Embassy’s new Science and Education Counselor, Dr. Petri Koikkalainen, and to talk about potential collaboration opportunities. In addition, the alumni met with Deputy Chief of Mission Jani Raappana, and Cultural Counselor Suvi Järvelä-Hagström. They were also taken on a tour of the Embassy building, including its famous diplomatic sauna.  The event brought together alumni from multiple grant years and programs and from across the United States.

The event featured a unique art exhibition by Kai Hu. Ming Hu and Kai Hu spent spring 2021 in Finland for Ming’s term as a Fulbright-Tampere University Scholar awardee. During the six-month Fulbright period, Kai Hu created a unique collection of artworks reflecting moments and impressions about their time in Finland and about Finnish culture, now displayed at the Embassy during the event.

The event was jointly hosted by Petri Koikkalainen from the Finnish Embassy and CEO Terhi Mölsä from the Fulbright Finland Foundation.

Photo collage of event participants at the Embassy of Finland in Washington D.C.

FoFF Welcome Network Event, Virtual, May 10, 2021

In May 2021 the FoFF Council in collaboration with the Fulbright Finland Foundation organized the first ever FoFF Welcome Network Event to virtually connect alumni with newly selected 2021-22 U.S. grantees. The event was moderated by FoFF Council member Casie Hermansson. Over 70 alumni and newly selected grantees participated in the event.