University of Dallas alumnus Tommy Heyne awarded Fulbright Fellowship

by PegNews wire

University of Dallas alumnus Tommy Heyne has been awarded a Fulbright Fellowship for foreign study as part of the U.S. government’s premier scholarship program. He's one of 16 UD students who have earned Fulbright awards since 1994.

Heyne will travel to Spain in September to study medicine as a means of peaceful co-existence between medieval Christians and Muslims, and will conduct his research from the University of Granada, which has the oldest Islamic studies faculty in Spain. While at the University, he will also be taking classes in Islam and Islamic history to complement his research.

"I am interested in Islam because it is the second most popular faith in the world, and the most quickly growing faith in the world," said Heyne. "It has a long and rich history that merits serious study rather than brief and summary dismissal."

A native of Southlake, Heyne is working on a master’s degree in theology at the University of Oxford. He graduated from UD in 2006 with bachelor’s degrees in history and biology and a concentration in medieval/renaissance studies. At UD, he was voted Student Body President and Outstanding Senior Male and was awarded the Cardinal Spellman Award and the Faculty First Honors Award. He is also the co-producer of a well-received promotional video for the University.

"While I personally have not found anything more convincing than Catholic Christianity, learning about the religions of the world is fascinating," Heyne added. "I hope this experience will allow me to be more capable of serious dialogue and debate about the Christian and Muslim faiths."

Source: University of Dallas