Umeå University student Alexis Nielsen receives the 2015 Global Swede Award

Alexis Nielsen, master’s degree student in geoecology at Umeå University, received the 2015 Global Swede Award at a diploma ceremony in Stockholm on 12 May. The special recognition is a joint initiative between the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Swedish Institute to honour international students who have distinguished themselves in areas related to innovation and entrepreneurship.

Umeå, Sweden, 13-5-2015 — /EuropaWire/ — Higher education institutions from across the country have been invited to participate and nominate one foreign student to the fifth annual Global Swede diploma ceremony. The objective is to highlight international students who have excelled in their studies in Sweden and will be good ambassadors to promote a positive image of Sweden.

Umeå University nominated Alexis Nielsen, who is from Tampa, Florida in the United States. She will soon be earning a Master of Science degree in Geoecology, a programme at the Department of Ecology and Environmental science that integrates the fields of geosciences and ecology.

“I am honoured to have been nominated for the Global Swede Award,” says Alexis Nielsen. “My two years as an international student at Umeå University have helped me to discover what I am passionate about and gave me the opportunities to gain theoretical and practical experience working in my field. I am excited to be a part of the Global Swede community and want to encourage students from the U.S. to study abroad in Sweden because it has challenged me to think differently and have a more global perspective when thinking about environmental issues.”

Alexis Nielsen earned a Bachelor of Science in Geology at Florida State University (USA) in 2013.  During her studies, she worked as a research assistant and also assisted a professor in making videos for high school teachers demonstrating fun science experiments to help get their students interested and involved in science. Alexis is currently researching, as part of her master’s thesis, wastewater treatment techniques with algae. She has shown keen interest in issues relating to environmental biology and sustainability, and aims to pursue research at the doctoral level upon completing her degree.

“Alexis is a fine example of how quickly our international students can adapt and integrate their academic and cultural interests at Umeå University,” says Greg Neely, International Office Director. “With her outstanding academic performance in geology and the environment and keen interest in Swedish culture Alexis is a perfect ambassador for Sweden.”

This year, a total of 22 foreign students at higher education institutions in Sweden have received the Global Swede recognition which includes a diploma and gift. The awards were distributed by Mikael Damberg, Sweden’s Minister for Enterprise and Innovation, and Annika Rembe, Director-General of the Swedish Institute. 

For more information, please contact:

Alexis Nielsen
E-mail: alexismnielsen@gmail.com

Gregory Neely, International Office Director, Umeå University
Phone: +46 (0)90 786 9752
E-mail: gregory.neely@umu.se

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Alexis Nielsen and Mikael Damberg, Sweden’s Minister for Enterprise and Innovation
Photo credit: Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs