Exchange Student Stories

Another AYA Student Shares Talent in Kansas

February 17, 2017 AYA Leave a Comment

An AYA student from Germany is making her mark at a high school in Kansas. Ella is a gifted clarinet player and earning high accolades for her skill. She shares her talent as part of the Rossville High School band. Ella's Local Coordinator Kelly wrote in to share details about … [Read more...]

Exchange Student Pledges to Inspire Change

February 10, 2017 AYA 7 Comments

Nayab is a YES student from Pakistan. She took the time to write the following reflection piece on cultural exchange after attending a mid-year orientation trip to California with a large group of AYA students. Please enjoy Nayab's thoughtful and very moving account of the … [Read more...]

Grant Students Share Special Experience in California

February 8, 2017 AYA Leave a Comment

As a placing organization for the U.S. Department of State’s YES and FLEX programs, AYA is lucky enough to work with amazing students who have earned merit-based scholarships for international exchange. For decades, these programs have been successfully building bridges and … [Read more...]

Spotlight on Excellence: AYA Student Shines in New York

February 7, 2017 AYA 1 Comment

Carolin with her host family Our Local Coordinator Terri, from the state of New York, submitted the following acknowledgement of a student with whom she has been extremely impressed. Carolin, an exchange student from Germany, has been very involved in her school and local … [Read more...]

International Group Compares Area Doughnuts

February 6, 2017 AYA Leave a Comment

Louise H. is a Local Coordinator with Academic Year in America in the Virginia and Maryland area. She recently took a group of exchange students and their host families to participate in an interesting cultural experience, the International Doughnut Research Academy. The group … [Read more...]

Former Exchange Student Reflects on AYA Experience—Thirty Years Later!

January 26, 2017 AYA 1 Comment

At my school locker. They didn't have lockers at my school in Spain, so this surprised me a lot! As Academic Year in America celebrates 35 years of enriching lives through international high school exchange, we are thrilled to be hearing from so many former students about the … [Read more...]