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 families who do just that. So, in addition to the AYA 2026 Host Family of the Year winner and runner-up, we wanted to recognize four incredible families in New York, Nebraska, Louisiana, and Georgia who each opened their homes to an exchange student and, in the process, changed a life.
Read about the AYA 2026 Host Family of the Year Honorable Mentions and what makes these families so incredible!
The Guild Family
New York | Nominated by Johanna from Germany
Johanna said she knew the Guilds were special as soon as they met:
“From the moment I arrived, my American family, the Guilds, made me feel like I truly belonged. I never felt like a guest. I felt like a part of their family right away.”
Throughout her time with the family, the Guilds were there to support Johanna—whether that meant “cheering the loudest at my soccer games,” she wrote, or “celebrating my success or comforting me in emotional situations.” They even had a way of turning the ordinary into something special:
“I really love the small moments my host family makes special. Going grocery shopping, driving in the car, or staying home and playing games are moments I enjoy so much because I spend this time with my host family. We always laugh together and have the best time.”
At the end of a long day, she could always look forward to returning home to the Guild household: “No matter what kind of day I had, I was always happy/excited because I knew I could come home to my wonderful host family.”
The Kilgore Family
Nebraska | Nominated by Chanel from Switzerland
Chanel did the math: over the course of her exchange year in Nebraska, her host parents logged approximately 4,800 minutes (nearly 80 hours) driving her to school activities and extracurriculars. That’s 80 hours in the car, for one of three children in their home—all without complaint. This figure begins to capture just how dedicated the Kilgores were to Chanel; she added:
“That alone shows their dedication, but what matters even more is how they always check in on me, support me, and make sure I’m doing well.”
From the beginning, the Kilgores made Chanel feel like she belonged and was truly a member of the family:
“They are not just providing a place to stay, they are giving me a home, support, and memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life. They include me in everything, treat me like their own child, and make even the smallest moments special.”
The Smith Family
Louisiana | Nominated by Sina from Germany
The Smith’s exchange story begins during one of Sina’s most difficult moments in the U.S.: when she found out it was ending early. After learning that her host family could no longer host her and she’d have to return home, she went to school the next day, heartbroken, to say goodbye to her family and friends:
“When I found out that my exchange year would end earlier, a whole world broke apart for me. I went to school the next day so sad to tell my teachers and my friends goodbye. Before the first period started, I went to my favorite teacher to tell her. I will never forget this moment when she hugged me and told me that she will open her heart and home for me. I have never experienced so much kindness and gratitude in my entire life.”
To Sina’s surprise, that teacher became her host mom, and what followed were weeks that Sina describes as some of the most meaningful of her entire year. The Smith family gave her an authentic taste of Louisiana life and hospitality: teaching her to make pastalaya and crawfish, taking her to an LSU baseball game where she and her host sister made it onto the big screen (“we are the perfect duo,” Sina added), singing karaoke together, preparing for prom with her host mom.
Summing up her experience with the Kilgore family, Sina wrote:
“They truly feel like family for me, and they make my heart so happy and full… They will forever have a place in my heart and it will always feel like home being around them.”
The Keegan Family
Georgia | Nominated by Antonia from Germany
Antonia’s first impression of the Keegan family was immediate and lasting: “It did not feel like entering a stranger’s house, it felt like coming home.” That feeling only deepened in the everyday moments she shared with her dad:
“We often go to the gym together, and even the drive there becomes something special… These small moments turned into meaningful lessons and memories that I will always carry with me.”
She also shared a special connection with her host mom, who she described as the epitome of altruism:
“One day we were thinking of people who truly represent the word ‘altruistic’… the first person who came to my mind was my host mom. She cares for me with so much love and sincerity. The bond we shared is very special and we are like two peas in a pod. She has supported me, listened to me, and made me feel valuable every day.”
Altruism is at the center of the Keegan family’s ethos. They run a foundation supporting women who never had the opportunity to complete their education. Antonia noted how watching them give back to the world left a lasting impression on her:
“Because of my host parents, I have not only had an unforgettable experience, but I have also grown as a person. They have shaped me, guided me, and helped me become a better version of myself.”
Want to make a difference in the life of an exchange student and your community like these families did? Become a host family with AYA!
These four families represent what it means to become an AYA host family: to stand up and open your arms to a new experience—one that will simultaneously transform the life of an exchange student as well as your family and community at large. It means supporting them through the good times and the bad and making the most of the little moments. Hosting is a choice each and every AYA host family makes, and it’s one that exchange students around the world are so grateful for.
Are you interested in exploring the choice to host an exchange student? AYA has all the information you need to make your decision.
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