LEWISTON, Maine (AP) Bates College has been named the top producer of Fulbright students among the nation’s small liberal arts colleges.

The Chronicle of Higher Education says the Lewiston school, with about 1,800 undergraduates, had 23 Fulbright students this academic year. In the publication’s 2017-18 rankings, only six larger research institutions surpassed that total.

In a news release, Bates President Clayton Spencer said the school’s success in the international exchange program shows that its graduates are “prepared to contribute on a global stage.”

The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the U.S. government. Its U.S. student program offers grants for college seniors, graduate students and recent graduates to study, conduct research or teach English abroad. Its other programs bring foreign students to the U.S. and sponsor the exchange of scholars, artists and professionals.