While it seems almost too cliché to say out loud, time has flown by this school year. Most of our exchange students will be returning (or have already returned) to their home countries this month. There will be a lot of tears shed at homes, schools, goodbye parties, and even airports all over the nation as students finish their time here in the U.S. But those tears are GOOD tears! Those tears mean that the students, families, friends and communities became more than casual acquaintances... They became lifelong members of each other's lives. Those tears, often accompanied by laughter through the crying, mean this year has been more than worth the effort of overcoming challenges or learning a new language.
So let's hold off on the waterworks as we finish out the year strong and see what our students have been up to in their final days here!
ICES Students Of The Year
Congratulations to our ICES 2022 Students of the Year, Matilde Eleonori (Italy) and Carmen Acosta Torres (Spain) from Oxford, MI. In a year that was very difficult for their school and their entire community, these two girls exemplified the heart and purpose of youth exchange. Thank you both for being excellent representatives of your countries, your families, and of ICES!
Mati and Carmen, pictured here with
Regional Director Andrea Lundin
Parade of Nations Logo Contest Winner
ICES exchange student Chiara Rapacci
HOUGHTON, Mich. (WLUC) - A 17-year-old junior at Baraga High School won this year’s Parade of Nations logo contest. Her design will be the official logo of the Parade of Nations, printed on t-shirts, flyers and other materials. MTU’s Parade of Nations says it’s incredibly appropriate that Rapacci won. Read why here.
Making History
The Need... for Speed!
From Milan to Moniteau: ICES Exchange Student Camilla Passoni from Italy has helped the Monitneau High School 400-meter relay team break their school record... and more! Read about it here
National History Club Scholars Society Inductees
Congratulations to Silvia Statta (Italy) and Nicholas Iperti (Italy), who both achieved induction into the National History Club’s Scholar Society. The National History Club has approximately 20,000 student members nationwide from over 700 American High Schools. Each year the seniors have a chance to qualify for graduation with honors in History. Successful students are noted by a crimson cord at graduation and they are recognized by the History Channel and on the National History Club Website.
"I think it is quite an amazing thing that of 20,000 kids nationwide only 2 exchange students at Enochs High School, Chapter #582 will walk the graduation stage with this honor, representing our school and their home nations as scholars in History." ~ Bryan Rogers, History Club Advisor
Prom King Matteo
With a prom theme of "Once Upon A Time",Matteo (Italy) was crowned Prom King, and is pictured here with his host parents Jonathan and Kathryn Smail in Butler, PA. Congratulations Matteo!
Our blog is overflowing (in a good way)
Meet Our April Student Of The Month
Congratulations to Paula Martinez Martinez for being chosen as the ICES April Student of the Month! Paula is from Madrid, Spain and is living with the Thomas family in Grace, Idaho. She was nominated by her host mom, K’Lyn.
American. It's a word that means different things to different people. For exchange students, experiencing all things American is the goal of their exchange. But just what is "American" to an exchange student?
How does knowing people from other countries and cultures make our lives better?
That's the question we asked high school students across the U.S. in this year's Bridging Cultures Scholarship essay contest. And they had a lot to say! With more than 700 entries, we have selected our winners.
10 Ways to Bond with Your Exchange Student Before They Arrive
You’ve chosen your exchange student, and the placement is finalized—now what? It’s time for the fun to begin, that's what! Learn how to start the bonding now... here's how.
Moms everywhere work hard to care for their families while providing love and encouragement. Host moms take that to another level entirely as they voluntarily give that same care to an exchange student. Check out our Mother's Day blog post here!
Many of our Study Abroad students are getting ready to return to the U.S., like Juliana Ellis, an American wrapping up her exchange to France this month. "My exchange semester has been amazing so far, my host family is great, I really love my school and friends, I've gotten to see so much!"
"This photo is of me making crêpes with my host family for La Chandeleur"
"I had the opportunity to visit Honfleur, a town on the northern coast of France"
"And this is a photo of me at a school dance with my friends"
ICES is excited to not only bring students form all around the world to the United States, but to also send American Students to other countries through our Study Abroad Program! It's a great way to:
It's the time of year when our students head back to their home countries. And like we said, there may be tears. But good tears. So don't let those tears keep you from being excited about the future. Our planning and prep is in full swing here at ICES, and there are students waiting right now to connect with their new American families.
Memories
The end of the school year can be filled with wonderful memories. Share your photos and stories from the recently concluded school year with us and you might just see them pop up in our social media, blog, or newsletter.
Send your favorite memories to stories@icesusa.org. Please include the student's name, home country, and the host family's name and home state.
And have a great summer!
International Cultural Exchange Services, 375 N. Stephanie Street, Bldg. 16, Henderson, Nevada 89014, United States, Toll-Free within USA: 1-800-344-3566 Call from outside USA: +1 434-993-1973
