The Institute of International Education (IIE), is set to honour President John Evans Atta Mills, as the first ever Fulbright Scholar to become President of any Republic, a release from the Office of the President has said. President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Institute, Dr. Allan E. Goodman, according to the release, declared the intention of the Institute when he met with President Mills in New York, on Monday, November 28, 2011. President Mills will be bestowed with the honour in September next year when he attends the United Nations General Assembly in New York. “During the interaction, Dr. Goodman congratulated President Atta Mills for his elevation to the very high office of President of Ghana, and also for making the IIE proud. “According to Dr. Goodman, the sterling leadership qualities of President Mills, as well as his strong resolve to build a Better Ghana in a very politically accommodating manner, is a worthy of note and emulation,” it observed. “As the first ever Fulbright Scholar to become President of a nation, we are proud of you and what you have achieved so far hence our decision to honour you,” Dr. Goodman is quoted as saying. “Ghana’s democracy has caught the attention of the world under your leadership and we are proud to be associated with your success” Dr. Goodman added. President Atta Mills, on his part, appreciated the quality education that the Fulbright Fellowship gave him. According to President Mills, his education at Stanford has played a very pivotal role in getting him to the height that he has reached. “I must say that my stay at Stanford was very unique in many ways and I thank the IIE for the opportunity that I got to study here as a Fulbright Fellow,” President Mills said. According to President Atta Mills, he still has lots of fond memories of his days as a Fulbright scholar; memories that are forever etched on his mind. On behalf of the numerous Ghanaians who have benefited from IIE’s Scholarship schemes, President Atta Mills expressed his appreciation for the good that American education has done to Ghanaians and Ghana and humbly accepted to be honoured by the IIE. “I am humbly honoured by this proposition and will accept it on behalf of the numerous Ghanaians as well as other Africans who have benefited from IIE’s academic benevolence” President Atta Mills said. “We are grateful to the IIE for what you have done for Ghana and the African Continent and hope that you will continue to support us as vigorously as you did in the 50s, 60s and 70s” President Mills said further. His Excellency President John Evans Atta Mills was a Fulbright Scholar in 1971 at the Stanford University while at the same time pursing his PhD in the area of Taxation Law at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London, where he defended his doctoral thesis at the age of 27.