Host Family Stories

Four Families, Four States, One Unforgettable Exchange Year

May 26, 2026 AYA Leave a Comment

While every host family is different, the most caring ones share something in common: a dedication to ensuring their exchange students have everything they need to make their time in the U.S. unforgettable. Fortunately, Academic Year in America (AYA) is filled with amazing host … [Read more...]

Four Exceptional Host Families: AYA’s 2024-2025 Host Family of the Year Runners-Up

May 23, 2025 AYA Leave a Comment

AYA recently announced the 2024-2025 Host Family of the Year—the Edwards family of Kentucky—but they weren’t the only host family considered! Due to the high number of kind and welcoming host families that open their hearts and homes to exchange students each year through the AYA … [Read more...]

Meet the 2024-25 Host Family of the Year: The Edwards Family in Kentucky

May 13, 2025 AYA Leave a Comment

AYA is thrilled to announce our 2024-25 Host Family of the Year: the Edwards family in Kentucky! Since beginning their hosting journey with AYA in 2022, the Edwards family has been committed to creating a positive experience for exchange students in the United States—not only … [Read more...]

Meet a Host Family: Julie in Kansas

April 30, 2025 AYA Leave a Comment

Welcoming an international exchange student into your home is a life-changing experience for both the student and the entire host family. Julie from small-town Rossville, Kansas, knows this firsthand. Over the past 12 years, her family has opened their hearts and home to seven … [Read more...]

Meet a Host Family: Allen in Kansas

April 29, 2025 AYA Leave a Comment

For Allen and his family in rural Kansas, hosting a high school exchange student through Academic Year in America (AYA) wasn’t just a one-year experience — it sparked a lifelong connection! In 2014, he and his family hosted Vanessa from Germany, and what began as a cultural … [Read more...]

Meet a Host Family: Chris & Shelby in Kansas

April 28, 2025 AYA Leave a Comment

When Shelby and Chris in small-town Kansas decided to host an international exchange student through Academic Year in America (AYA), they weren’t sure exactly what to expect. But what they found was a rewarding experience that brought new traditions, deeper cultural … [Read more...]