Eight Mainers have been chosen by the U.S. Department of State to participate in the academic-based Fulbright Program in Croatia, China, Finland, Nepal, Paraguay, Germany and Columbia.

U.S. Sen. Olympia J. Snowe announced the winners and congratulated the scholars for their strong achievements in academics to study, lecture or conduct research abroad.

Established by Congress in 1946, the Fulbright Program is the oldest U.S. government-sponsored academic exchange program. Organized by the U.S. Department of State, the program seeks to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and those of other countries.Those selected are:

. Dr. Andrew Egan of Orono and the University of Maine, who will travel to Nepal as a scholar of environmental studies.

. Dr. David Towle of Bar Harbor and the Mount Desert Island Biological Lab, who will travel to Croatia as a scholar of biological sciences.

. Dr. Erika Waters of Freeport and the University of Southern Maine, who will travel to Finland as a scholar of American literature.

. Dr. G. Calvin Mackenzie of Bowdoinham and Colby College in Waterville, who will travel to China as a scholar of political science.

. Emily Harvey of Canton, who will travel to Paraguay as a student of ecology and environmental studies.

. Hannah Sokol of Lewiston, who will travel to Germany as a student teacher of English as a foreign language.

. Tara Murphy of Brunswick, who will travel to Columbia as a student of women's studies.

. Lisa Newcombe of Augusta, who will travel to Germany as a student teacher of English as a foreign language.