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 |
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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 |
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Most Recent Educational Institution: Auburn University
Area of Study: Supply Chain Management
Professional Field: Supply Chain & Logistics |
|
American Samoa
Malaetele Lefiti |
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Most Recent Educational Institution: University of Hawaii at Manoa
Area of Study: Biology
Professional Field: Public Health |
Arizona
Michelle Ailport |
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Most Recent Educational Institution: Arizona State University
Area of Study: Journalism and Mass Communication
Professional Field: Journalism and Mass Communication |
Nicholas Tran |
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Most Recent Educational Institution: Prima Community College
Area of Study: Political Science
Professional Field: Political Economy and Business |
California
Audrey Booth |
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Most Recent Educational Institution: American River College
Area of Study: English Communications and Literature
Professional Field: Acting and Film Production |
Jessica Chen |
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Most Recent Educational Institution: Duke University
Area of Study: Art History and Public Policy
Professional Field: Arts |
Amanda Chow |
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Most Recent Educational Institution: Brown University
Area of Study: Applied Mathematics and Economics
Professional Field: Economics |
Maya Marrero English |
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Most Recent Educational Institution: Oberlin College
Area of Study: Economics
Professional Field: International Finance and Development |
Shannon Pierson |
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Most Recent Educational Institution: University of Washington
Area of Study: International Studies
Professional Field: Think Tanks |
Samuel Shain |
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Most Recent Educational Institution: NC State University
Area of Study: International Studies and Global Sustainability
Professional Field: Entrepreneurship, Stewardship, and Strategic Partnerships |
Sophia Silane |
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Most Recent Educational Institution: Pitzer College
Area of Study: Studio Arts and Art History
Professional Field: Arts |
Katherine Van Kirk |
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Most Recent Educational Institution: Palomar College
Area of Study: Biology and Computer Science
Professional Field: Bioinformatics |
Connecticut
Patrick Kornegay |
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Most Recent Educational Institution: University of Connecticut
Area of Study: Political Science
Professional Field: Public Policy |
Elizabeth Warner |
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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 |
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Most Recent Education Institution: University of Florida
Area of Study: Family, Youth, & Community Sciences
Professional Field: Student Services |
Gillian Daley |
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Most Recent Education Institution: Florida International University
Area of Study: International Relations
Professional Field: Transatlantic think tank |
Parmiss Khosravi |
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Most Recent Education Institution: Georgia Tech
Area of Study: Materials Science & Engineering
Professional Field: Materials Science & Engineering |
Abigail Megginson |
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Most Recent Education Institution: University of West Florida
Area of Study: Journalism and Political Science
Professional Field: Political Science Journalism |
Georgia
Irene Cho |
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Most Recent Education Institution: Georgia Institute of Technology
Area of Study: Mechanical Engineering
Professional Field: Automotive Industry |
Colin Murphy |
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Most Recent Education Institution: Tufts University
Area of Study: Computer Science and German Studies
Professional Field: Cybersecurity and Information Technology |
Daniela Ruiz |
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Most Recent Education Institution: Northwestern University
Area of Study: Chemical and Biological Engineering
Professional Field: Biotechnology and Public Health |
Kaiwen Wang |
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Most Recent Education Institution: Georgia Institute of Technology
Area of Study: Mechanical Engineering
Professional Field: Mechanical Engineering |
Illinois
Zane Creek |
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Most Recent Education Institution: University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign
Area of Study: Business Studies
Professional Field: Business in Music |
Anastasia Kallish |
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Most Recent Education Institution: College of DuPage
Area of Study: International Relations
Professional Field: International Relations |
Indiana
Hannah Benchik |
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Most Recent Education Institution: Saint Mary’s College
Area of Study: Business Administration
Professional Field: International Business |
Kansas
Gabriel Dorsey |
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Most Recent Education Institution: University of Kansas
Area of Study: Political Science
Professional Field: Government and Public Administration |
Natalie Miller |
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Most Recent Education Institution: Fort Hays State University
Area of Study: Political Science
Professional Field: Political Science |
Kentucky
Shelby Browning |
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Most Recent Education Institution: University of Kentucky
Area of Study: Chemical Engineering
Professional Field: Sustainable and Environmental Engineering |
Maryland
Trevonn Gyles |
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Most Recent Education Institution: Morehouse College
Area of Study: Biology
Professional Field: Neuroscience |
Hannah Lane |
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Most Recent Education Institution: Goucher College
Area of Study: History
Professional Field: Academic Library |
Massachusetts
Jesse Girrell |
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Most Recent Education Institution: University of Massachusetts Amherst
Area of Study: Psychology
Professional Field: Education |
Michigan
Ruth Selipsky |
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Most Recent Education Institution: University of Chicago
Area of Study: Political Science
Professional Field: Politics, Journalism or Marketing |
Minnesota
Luke Westawke |
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Most Recent Education Institution: Carleton College
Area of Study: Chemistry and German
Professional Field: Chemical Research |
Missouri
Melody Hollar |
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Most Recent Education Institution: University of Montana
Area of Study: Ecosystem Sciences and Restoration
Professional Field: Sustainable Public Policy |
Montana
Jason Koehn |
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Most Recent Education Institution: American University
Area of Study: International Relations
Professional Field: International Development |
Nebraska
Gerald Fraas |
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Most Recent Education Institution: University of Alabama
Area of Study: Political Science
Professional Field: Consulting |
Patrick Hodson |
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Most Recent Education Institution: University of Nebrasks at Omaha
Area of Study: Business Administration
Professional Field: Accounting |
Kathy Nguyen |
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Most Recent Education Institution: University of Nebraska at Omaha
Area of Study: Communications
Professional Field: Marketing |
Corinne Peterson |
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Most Recent Education Institution: Nebraska Wesleyan University
Area of Study: Modern Language Studies and Psychology
Professional Field: Cultural Affairs |
Michael Thompson |
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Most Recent Education Institution: University of Nebraska at Omaha
Area of Study: Sustainability
Professional Field: Sustainability |
New Jersey
Rachel Rizzo |
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Most Recent Education Institution: University of South Carolina
Area of Study: Mechanical Engineering
Professional Field: Engineering |
Jonah Salzman-Cohen |
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Most Recent Education Institution: University of Vermont
Area of Study: Forestry
Professional Field: Forestry |
New York
William Avis |
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Most Recent Education Institution: Rochester Institute of Technology
Area of Study: Industrial Design
Professional Field: Furniture Design |
Alberta Eshenour |
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Most Recent Education Institution: State University of New York at Geneseo
Area of Study: International Relations
Professional Field: Public Policy |
Lukas Griffin |
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Most Recent Education Institution: Oberlin College
Area of Study: Computer Science
Professional Field: Computer Science |
Sumin Lee-Jeong |
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Most Recent Education Institution: Columbia University
Area of Study: English and Comparative Literature
Professional Field: Theatre and Arts Administration |
Zoe Shannon |
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Most Recent Education Institution: Binghamton University
Area of Study: History and Middle East & North African Studies
Professional Field: Refugee Resettlement |
Ryan Strick |
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Most Recent Education Institution: Binghamton University
Area of Study: Urban and Regional Planning
Professional Field: City/Regional Planning |
Samantha Velez |
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Most Recent Education Institution: Fashion Institute of Technology
Area of Study: International Trade and Marketing
Professional Field: Supply Chain |
North Carolina
Peyton Carrington |
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Most Recent Education Institution: High Point University
Area of Study: Communications and Event Management
Professional Field: Event Management |
Brooke Conrad |
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Most Recent Education Institution: Hillsdale College
Area of Study: Englsih
Professional Field: Journalism |
Quinton Moore |
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Most Recent Education Institution: North Carolina State University
Area of Study: Communications
Professional Field: Film and Video Production |
Pennsylvania
Elizabeth Czerpak |
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Most Recent Education Institution: Drexel University
Area of Study: Culinary Science
Professional Field: Hospitality |
Joseph Desmone |
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Most Recent Education Institution: American University
Area of Study: International Studies
Professional Field: Politics |
Andrew Halza |
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Most Recent Education Institution: Case Western Reserve University
Area of Study: Biology
Professional Field: Biomedical Research |
Juliana Landis |
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Most Recent Education Institution: University of Vermont
Area of Study: Environmental Science
Professional Field: Environmental Science |
William Summer |
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Most Recent Education Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Area of Study: Computer Engineering
Professional Field: Computer Engineering |
Puerto Rico
Gabriel Negrón |
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Most Recent Education Institution: University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus
Area of Study: Economics
Professional Field: Economics |
South Carolina
Roberta Lancaster |
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Most Recent Education Institution: Culinary Institute of America
Area of Study: Food Business Administration
Professional Field: Culinary Arts |
Matthew Martin |
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Most Recent Education Institution: Furman University
Area of Study: Chemistry
Professional Field: Science Policy |
Piper Powell |
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Most Recent Education Institution: Furman University
Area of Study: Psychology and German Studies
Professional Field: Neuroscience |
Robert Spencer |
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Most Recent Education Institution: University of South Carolina – Columbia
Area of Study: Political Science and German
Professional Field: Politics |
South Dakota
Jessie Allcock |
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Most Recent Education Institution: Elmhurst Collge
Area of Study: Biology
Professional Field: Dentistry |
Texas
Caroline Bik |
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Most Recent Education Institution: The University of Texas at Austin
Area of Study: Aerospace Engineering
Professional Field: Aerospace Engineering |
Andrew Hitscherich |
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Most Recent Education Institution: Texas A&M University
Area of Study: Business and Fincance
Professional Field: Business Consulting |
Karolyn Newton |
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Most Recent Education Institution: St. Edward’s University
Area of Study: Environmental Science and Policy
Professional Field: Sustainability |
Virginia
Cameron Brandon |
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Most Recent Education Institution: University of Virginia
Area of Study: German Studies and Foreign Affairs
Professional Field: Politics |
Harrison Branner |
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Most Recent Education Institution: Duke University
Area of Study: Environmental Science
Professional Field: Energy and Environmental Policy |
Holland Cathey |
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Most Recent Education Institution: University of Virginia
Area of Study: Environmental Sustainability and German Literature
Professional Field: Urban and Environmental Planning |
Billy Hughes |
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Most Recent Education Institution: Woodgrove High School
Professional Field: Emergency Medical Services |
Diana Sosa |
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Most Recent Education Institution: Georgetown University
Area of Study: International Affairs
Professional Field: International Education |
Vermont
Allan Wheeler |
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Most Recent Education Institution: Vermont Technical College
Area of Study: Civil and Environmental Engineering
Professional Field: Geologic Engineering |
Washington
Allison Charoni |
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Most Recent Education Institution: University of Washington
Area of Study: Cinema Studies
Professional Field: Video Production |
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