FOR RELEASE
March 18, 1999

          Cadet Arthur Maine Baker III, the son of Ms. Catherine Gazes and the grandson of Dr. and Mrs. Peter C. Gazes of Charleston, has been awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to continue his research in Australia for the risk factors that predispose one-third of diabetic patients to have severe complications. His goal is to develop a better treatment plan to prevent patients from having complications before they develop symptoms.

          The Fulbright Program was founded in 1946 by Congress to create educational and cultural accord among nations. Senator J. William Fulbright, who sponsored the legislation, envisioned it as an alternative to armed conflict. Each year, Americans study and conduct research in more than 100 countries through the Fulbright Program.

          Cadet Baker, an honors student, is a member of the 1999 Summerall Guard, the Honor Court, BioCid, and the Round Table. A biology major, he has consistently achieved Gold Stars for academic excellence. He has been accepted to the Medical University of South Carolina and the University South Carolina School of Medicine.

          In late January, Cadet Baker found out that he was a finalist. On Monday, March 8, around midnight, he received an e-mail from the program officer for the Australian-American Education Foundation stating that he had been selected to receive the scholarship. He was initially incredulous: "I jumped back from my computer. I thought someone was playing a bad joke. Now, I just feel so fortunate. Someone up there is really looking out for me."

          Cadet Baker will spend eleven months in Australia at the University of Melbourne. After that he plans to attend medical school.