(Photo/submitted)
Hudson – Hudson High School sophomore Samantha Myette was recently awarded one of 65 scholarships to study abroad on the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Abroad program through the U.S. State Department. The competitive, merit-based award covers the full cost of an academic year abroad, providing a full immersion experience through living with a host family in Ghana, attending a Ghanaian high school, and helping develop the skills necessary to be a leader in the global community. The YES Abroad program is funded by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
According to Myette's mother, Karen Myette, the application process began in late 2012. “It was a huge deal for our family and we are very proud of her accomplishment,” Mrs. Myette said. Her daughter traveled to Maryland for training in June and will leave for Ghana in September.
Through her participation in the YES Abroad program, Myette will be at the forefront of citizen diplomacy, serving as a “youth ambassador,” promoting mutual understanding by building lasting relationships with her host family and friends, and through community engagement in volunteer service and leadership training.
The Kennedy-Lugar YES program was first authorized by the U.S. Congress in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, as an effort to increase dialogue and understanding between the U.S. and countries with significant Muslim populations. Initially created as a program for international high school students to live and study in the United States, the YES program was expanded in 2007 to include YES Abroad for American high school students. The YES Abroad program provides opportunities for Americans to study for an academic year in select countries including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, South Africa, Thailand, and Turkey.
For more information about the YES Abroad program, including information on how to apply for the 2014-15 academic year, visit?yesprograms.org/yesabroad.? For more information about hosting a YES international exchange student, visit?hosting.state.gov.
