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Meet Our 37th Cohort of the CBYX for Young Professionals Program

It is our pleasure to announce the newest cohort of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) for Young Professionals program!

Seventy-five young professionals from the United States chosen from 450 applicants will begin a program of intensive language studies, homestay, internship and university study in Germany starting January 2021. We will also provide our Fellows with online language instruction through the Goethe-Institut prior to departure for Germany.

CBYX normally runs for 11 months but has been shortened for this cohort. We are especially proud of the resilience and flexibility of our selected Fellows to accept the current program modifications.

The 2020-2021 cohort was chosen from excellent candidates in 27 states and 2 U.S. territories. This year, the most scholarship recipients hail from the states of California, New York, Pennsylvania, and Nebraska. Participant career goals include bioinformatics, event management, urban planning, accounting, computer engineering, and furniture design.

Celebrating its 37th anniversary as a joint program of the German Bundestag and U.S. Congress, the CBYX for Young Professionals program provides 75 American and 75 German young leaders the opportunity to spend up to a year in each other’s countries studying, interning, and living with host families. The fellowship is open to candidates in all career fields between the ages of 18 and 24 who are interested in a year of academic, professional, and cultural exchange. CBYX also offers opportunities for high school students and individuals interested in vocational training.

Cultural Vistas administers the CBYX for Young Professionals program through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. For additional information about CBYX please visit cbyx.info.

If you have any questions about our cohort or the CBYX for Young Professionals program, please contact Rachael Agnello, the CBYX Program Officer, at 212-497-3555 or ragnello@culturalvistas.org.

Our cohort at a glance:
55.4% of Fellows come from public universities
51.4% of Fellows are humanities majors
40.5% of Fellows are STEM majors
12.2% of Fellows are in the trades or are business majors
55.4% of Fellows identify as female
44.6% of Fellows identify as male
14 educational institutions have more than one student or alum represented in the cohort

Meet our 37th Cohort below.

Alabama

Alexander Allan

Most Recent Educational Institution: Auburn University

Area of Study: Economics

Professional Field: Economics

Alex Allan recently graduated from Auburn University with a BS in economics and a minor in German. He intends to pursue an internship for a German firm and work on improving his German fluency. In the future he hopes to work in international business.

Benjamin Patty

Most Recent Educational Institution: Auburn University

Area of Study: Supply Chain Management

Professional Field: Supply Chain & Logistics

American Samoa

Malaetele Lefiti

Most Recent Educational Institution: University of Hawaii at Manoa

Area of Study: Biology

Professional Field: Public Health

Arizona

Michelle Ailport

Most Recent Educational Institution: Arizona State University

Area of Study: Journalism and Mass Communication

Professional Field: Journalism and Mass Communication

Nicholas Tran

Most Recent Educational Institution: Prima Community College

Area of Study: Political Science

Professional Field: Political Economy and Business

California

Audrey Booth		Most Recent Educational Institution: American River College Area of Study: English Communications and Literature Professional Field: Acting and Film Production
Jessica Chen		Most Recent Educational Institution: Duke University Area of Study: Art History and Public Policy Professional Field: Arts
Amanda Chow		Most Recent Educational Institution: Brown University Area of Study: Applied Mathematics and Economics Professional Field: Economics
Maya Marrero English		Most Recent Educational Institution: Oberlin College Area of Study: Economics Professional Field: International Finance and Development
Shannon Pierson		Most Recent Educational Institution: University of Washington Area of Study: International Studies Professional Field: Think Tanks
Samuel Shain		Most Recent Educational Institution: NC State University Area of Study: International Studies and Global Sustainability Professional Field: Entrepreneurship, Stewardship, and Strategic Partnerships
Sophia Silane		Most Recent Educational Institution: Pitzer College Area of Study: Studio Arts and Art History Professional Field: Arts
Katherine Van Kirk		Most Recent Educational Institution: Palomar College Area of Study: Biology and Computer Science Professional Field: Bioinformatics

Connecticut

Patrick Kornegay

Most Recent Educational Institution: University of Connecticut

Area of Study: Political Science

Professional Field: Public Policy

Elizabeth Warner

Most Recent Education Institution: The University of Texas at Austin

Area of Study: Political Science

Professional Field: Public Policy and International Relations

Florida

Jamauri Bryan		Most Recent Education Institution: University of Florida Area of Study: Family, Youth, & Community Sciences Professional Field: Student Services
Gillian Daley		Most Recent Education Institution: Florida International University Area of Study: International Relations Professional Field: Transatlantic think tank
Parmiss Khosravi		Most Recent Education Institution: Georgia Tech Area of Study: Materials Science & Engineering Professional Field: Materials Science & Engineering
Abigail Megginson		Most Recent Education Institution: University of West Florida Area of Study: Journalism and Political Science Professional Field: Political Science Journalism

Georgia

Irene Cho		Most Recent Education Institution: Georgia Institute of Technology Area of Study: Mechanical Engineering Professional Field: Automotive Industry
Colin Murphy		Most Recent Education Institution: Tufts University Area of Study: Computer Science and German Studies Professional Field: Cybersecurity and Information Technology
Daniela Ruiz		Most Recent Education Institution: Northwestern University Area of Study: Chemical and Biological Engineering Professional Field: Biotechnology and Public Health
Kaiwen Wang		Most Recent Education Institution: Georgia Institute of Technology Area of Study: Mechanical Engineering Professional Field: Mechanical Engineering

Illinois

Zane Creek

Most Recent Education Institution: University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign

Area of Study: Business Studies

Professional Field: Business in Music

Anastasia Kallish

Most Recent Education Institution: College of DuPage

Area of Study: International Relations

Professional Field: International Relations

Indiana

Hannah Benchik

Most Recent Education Institution: Saint Mary’s College

Area of Study: Business Administration

Professional Field: International Business

Kansas

Gabriel Dorsey

Most Recent Education Institution: University of Kansas

Area of Study: Political Science

Professional Field: Government and Public Administration

Natalie Miller

Most Recent Education Institution: Fort Hays State University

Area of Study: Political Science

Professional Field: Political Science

Kentucky

Shelby Browning

Most Recent Education Institution: University of Kentucky

Area of Study: Chemical Engineering

Professional Field: Sustainable and Environmental Engineering

Maryland

Trevonn Gyles

Most Recent Education Institution: Morehouse College

Area of Study: Biology

Professional Field: Neuroscience

Hannah Lane

Most Recent Education Institution: Goucher College

Area of Study: History

Professional Field: Academic Library

Massachusetts

Jesse Girrell

Most Recent Education Institution: University of Massachusetts Amherst

Area of Study: Psychology

Professional Field: Education

Michigan

Ruth Selipsky

Most Recent Education Institution: University of Chicago

Area of Study: Political Science

Professional Field: Politics, Journalism or Marketing

Minnesota

Luke Westawke

Most Recent Education Institution: Carleton College

Area of Study: Chemistry and German

Professional Field: Chemical Research

Missouri

Melody Hollar

Most Recent Education Institution: University of Montana

Area of Study: Ecosystem Sciences and Restoration

Professional Field: Sustainable Public Policy

Montana

Jason Koehn

Most Recent Education Institution: American University

Area of Study: International Relations

Professional Field: International Development

Nebraska

Gerald Fraas		Most Recent Education Institution: University of Alabama Area of Study: Political Science Professional Field: Consulting
Patrick Hodson		Most Recent Education Institution: University of Nebrasks at Omaha Area of Study: Business Administration Professional Field: Accounting
Kathy Nguyen		Most Recent Education Institution: University of Nebraska at Omaha Area of Study: Communications Professional Field: Marketing
Corinne Peterson		Most Recent Education Institution: Nebraska Wesleyan University Area of Study: Modern Language Studies and Psychology Professional Field: Cultural Affairs
Michael Thompson		Most Recent Education Institution: University of Nebraska at Omaha Area of Study: Sustainability Professional Field: Sustainability

New Jersey

Rachel Rizzo

Most Recent Education Institution: University of South Carolina

Area of Study: Mechanical Engineering

Professional Field: Engineering

Jonah Salzman-Cohen

Most Recent Education Institution: University of Vermont

Area of Study: Forestry

Professional Field: Forestry

New York

William Avis		Most Recent Education Institution: Rochester Institute of Technology Area of Study: Industrial Design Professional Field: Furniture Design
Alberta Eshenour		Most Recent Education Institution: State University of New York at Geneseo Area of Study: International Relations Professional Field: Public Policy
Lukas Griffin		Most Recent Education Institution: Oberlin College Area of Study: Computer Science Professional Field: Computer Science
Sumin Lee-Jeong		Most Recent Education Institution: Columbia University Area of Study: English and Comparative Literature Professional Field: Theatre and Arts Administration
Zoe Shannon		Most Recent Education Institution: Binghamton University Area of Study: History and Middle East & North African Studies Professional Field: Refugee Resettlement
Ryan Strick		Most Recent Education Institution: Binghamton University Area of Study: Urban and Regional Planning Professional Field: City/Regional Planning
Samantha Velez		Most Recent Education Institution: Fashion Institute of Technology Area of Study: International Trade and Marketing Professional Field: Supply Chain

North Carolina

Peyton Carrington

Most Recent Education Institution: High Point University

Area of Study: Communications and Event Management

Professional Field: Event Management

Brooke Conrad

Most Recent Education Institution: Hillsdale College

Area of Study: Englsih

Professional Field: Journalism

Quinton Moore

Most Recent Education Institution: North Carolina State University

Area of Study: Communications

Professional Field: Film and Video Production

Pennsylvania

Elizabeth Czerpak		Most Recent Education Institution: Drexel University Area of Study: Culinary Science Professional Field: Hospitality
Joseph Desmone		Most Recent Education Institution: American University Area of Study: International Studies Professional Field: Politics
Andrew Halza		Most Recent Education Institution: Case Western Reserve University Area of Study: Biology Professional Field: Biomedical Research
Juliana Landis		Most Recent Education Institution: University of Vermont Area of Study: Environmental Science Professional Field: Environmental Science
William Summer		Most Recent Education Institution: University of Pittsburgh Area of Study: Computer Engineering Professional Field: Computer Engineering

Puerto Rico

Gabriel Negrón

Most Recent Education Institution: University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus

Area of Study: Economics

Professional Field: Economics

South Carolina

Roberta Lancaster		Most Recent Education Institution: Culinary Institute of America Area of Study: Food Business Administration Professional Field: Culinary Arts
Matthew Martin		Most Recent Education Institution: Furman University Area of Study: Chemistry Professional Field: Science Policy
Piper Powell		Most Recent Education Institution: Furman University Area of Study: Psychology and German Studies Professional Field: Neuroscience
Robert Spencer		Most Recent Education Institution: University of South Carolina – Columbia Area of Study: Political Science and German Professional Field: Politics

South Dakota

Jessie Allcock

Most Recent Education Institution: Elmhurst Collge

Area of Study: Biology

Professional Field: Dentistry

Texas

Caroline Bik

Most Recent Education Institution: The University of Texas at Austin

Area of Study: Aerospace Engineering

Professional Field: Aerospace Engineering

Andrew Hitscherich

Most Recent Education Institution: Texas A&M University

Area of Study: Business and Fincance

Professional Field: Business Consulting

Karolyn Newton

Most Recent Education Institution: St. Edward’s University

Area of Study: Environmental Science and Policy

Professional Field: Sustainability

Virginia

Cameron Brandon		Most Recent Education Institution: University of Virginia Area of Study: German Studies and Foreign Affairs Professional Field: Politics
Harrison Branner		Most Recent Education Institution: Duke University Area of Study: Environmental Science Professional Field: Energy and Environmental Policy
Holland Cathey		Most Recent Education Institution: University of Virginia Area of Study: Environmental Sustainability and German Literature Professional Field: Urban and Environmental Planning
Billy Hughes		Most Recent Education Institution: Woodgrove High School Professional Field: Emergency Medical Services
Diana Sosa		Most Recent Education Institution: Georgetown University Area of Study: International Affairs Professional Field: International Education