Fraternity-Testvériség, 1984 (62. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1984-07-01 / 3. szám
FRATERNITY Page 7 AMERICAN-HUNGARIAN NAMED RHODES SCHOLAR Elizabeth Kiss was one of only 32 college students from across the nation who was named an American Rhodes Scholar for two or three years of study at Oxford University in England. Elizabeth was a straight-A student and ranked number one academically in her class at Davidson College, Davidson, North Carolina. She graduated in 1983 and began her studies at Oxford in September of 1983. Miss Kiss, who was born in New York City, has won prizes for her fiction and poetry, was editor of the student newspaper at Davidson as a sophomore. She speaks Hungarian and French fluently, plays the piano and violin well. However, she is best known for her activism in the field of human rights. She has demonstrated her concern for human freedom through editorials in the student newspaper and through her role in founding a Davidson chapter of Amnesty International. Over 60 Davidson students became involved in Amnesty International under her leadership, and wrote letters to foreign governments holding political prisoners. Her interest in human rights was stimulated by her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Sándor Kiss. Before his death 9 months ago, Dr. Kiss worked as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer for the Hungarian language service of the “Voice of America” radio station. A native of Hungary and member of its Parliament, Dr. Kiss was imprisoned and sentenced to death for his political views and activities. He and his wife, Eva Ilona Kiss, were regarded as spiritual and inspirational leaders of the Hungarian revolution in 1956. They fled to America after its failure. “Being interested in human rights is a natural outgrowth of my heritage,” Elizabeth said. “I’m the daughter of Hungarian immigrants and my father was twice a political prisoner, under the Nazi and Communist regimes. I grew up in a Hungarian immigrant community where I heard many stories about suffering for an idea and principle.” “Zsizsi” as she is known to family and friends, plans to continue her studies in philosophy, hoping to get a doctorate. She’s not certain what profession she will choose, but she may go into journalism or become a human rights attorney. We congratulate Mrs. Kiss, who is Branch Manager of Branch #300, Washington, DC and extend our very best wishes and congratulations to Elizabeth. — All of us are so very proud of you! CSABA CHIKES Csaba Tibor Chikes was born on May 2, 1944 in Kisújszállás, Hungary. When Csaba was 3 years old, his father was called to be the minister of the Hungarian Reformed Church of Phoenixville, Pa. Accepting the call the family came to the USA in 1947. Csaba attended schools in Phoenixville, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. Upon graduation in 1962, lie entered the School of International Service (S.I.S.) of the American University. After graduation from A.U. in 1966 he passed the foreign service examination and was accepted into the Foreign Service. At the same time he also received a 4 year scholarship to graduate studies at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga. The Foreign Service granted him a leave of absence to go on with his graduate work in American Studies. In the year 1970 he started his USIA training. Completing area and language studies he was sent to his first assignment to Rome, in 1972. Copenhagen, Denmark followed in 1975, where he was the cultural attache till his return to the USA in 1979. After a home assignment, which among other things, dealt with overseeing and allocating scholarship funds, representation, etc., he was assigned to a new post: Budapest. He left for Hungary in the fall of 1983 to become the P.A.O. (Public Affairs Officer) there. The P.A.O.’s task is to explain and implement the U.S. foreign policy and is responsible for cultural and press representation. Congratulations to Csaba who is the son of the Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Tibor Chikes, professor at Wesley Seminary, Washington, D.C. It’s good to know we have a UREA member at the US Consulate in Budapest!
