Decorah native earns Fulbright Scholarship

Decorah native Michael Knutson has received a Fulbright scholarship to study and research in Norway this coming year.

Knutson graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Carleton College this spring with majors in both math and physics.  He graduated from Decorah High School in 2007.

He will leave in one week to begin studying at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim with the materials science department, researching crystallization of silicon for solar cell application.  He will also be taking classes with the university's international master's program.

Norway is at the forefront of energy technologies and produces about 98 percent of its electricity from hydroelectrical power. This, along with Knudson's own Norwegian heritage, made him apply to study there.

"I saw the Fulbright program as a meaningful way to take a year off after college before diving into a graduate school program," he said.