Student receives scholarship for exchange program in Germany

Jul. 12—GRANITE FALLS — CIEE, a nonprofit study abroad and intercultural exchange organization, announced that Emma Ingram, a rising senior at South Caldwell High School, is one of 250 American high school students from across the United States to be awarded the prestigious Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) Scholarship for the 2022-2023 academic year. CBYX is a bi-lateral exchange program co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and German Bundestag (Parliament).

As a CBYX scholar, Emma will spend the academic year in Germany living with a host family, attending a German high school, and participating in a language and cultural training program to gain a better understanding of German culture, language, and everyday life. Additionally, there will be the chance to visit the German Bundestag, meet with American and German government officials, participate in intercultural seminars, and explore the country through excursions to nearby cities and historical sites.

Each year, as a U.S. Department of State partner, CIEE awards the fully funded CBYX scholarship to 100 high-achieving high school students from 18 states, Washington D.C., the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, allowing youth from a diverse array of communities to participate in a full cultural immersion experience. The CBYX program, which is jointly funded by the U.S. Congress and the German Bundestag, was created to foster mutual understanding and strengthen ties between Germany and the U.S. through citizen diplomacy. The program is a true public‐private partnership, leveraging the contributions of host families, educational institutions, and local communities.

Not only do American students go abroad to Germany, but German students also come to live and study in the U.S. in order to promote the same level of understanding on both sides of the Atlantic. Since its inception in 1983, the program has allowed more than 27,000 students to expand their intercultural understanding, strengthen their leadership skills, and become global citizens. Many participants go on to study at top colleges and universities, and all participants become part of a global network of U.S. Department of State program alumni.

Those who would like more information about CBYX should visit exchanges.state.gov/cbyx or contact CIEE at 800-448-9944. German language skills are not required to apply for the scholarship. To learn more about hosting an international high school exchange student coming to the Lenoir, NC area for the 2022-2023 academic year, please visit www.ciee.org/host-families.