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 or to request an application, 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 cbyx@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
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Alexander AllanMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
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. |
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Benjamin PattyMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Ben Patty recently graduated Auburn University with a major in Supply Chain Management and a minor in German. Ben will be working as a logistics intern at a German manufacturer called Strähle+Hess before he leaves for Germany. Ben plans to pursue an internship in supply chain management in Germany and hopes to work for a German company in the United States. |
American Somoa
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Malaetele LefitiMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Malaetele Lefiti recently graduated from the University of Hawai’i with a double major in Biology and German studies. She is currently unable to travel to American Samoa due to extension of closing the borders for an additional 30 days. She hopes to find and be able to work under the Public Health Department until January. She intends to pursue an internship in Germany under Public Health or Environmental Science & Sustainability. She hopes to one day work for her community in a medical profession. |
Arizona
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Michelle AilportMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Michelle Ailport is studying journalism and public policy at Arizona State University. Before heading off to Germany, she will be completing the fall semester at ASU and will be an Undergraduate Research Fellow with the Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict. She intends to pursue an internship with a German media outlet, and eventually, she hopes to be a full-time journalist and storyteller. |
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Nicholas TranMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Nick Tran is currently enrolled at Pima Community College, transitioning to the University of Arizona. Nick is majoring in Political Science with an Economics minor. He currently works as a Sorter Assistant in a logistics and operations department within a distribution center. Nick’s goals include learning and applying political-economic knowledge during his time abroad, with the final goal of working for the United States Diplomatic Corps. Nick plans to use the knowledge from this wonderful opportunity with the Das Parlamentarische Patenschafts-Programm to build his experience to enact and coordinate foreign policy that works to sustain the longstanding partnership between the United States and Germany. |
California
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Audrey BoothMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Audrey Booth recently finished studying at American River College and will soon be transferring to Portland State University. She is currently directing a short film for a local festival and will continue to act and direct until she leaves for Germany. While in the program, she hopes to study German film and theatrical techniques. While her focus is on acting, she also hopes to one day direct her own feature films. |
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Jessica ChenMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Jess Chen recently graduated from Duke University with a B.A. in art history and a B.A. in public policy summa cum laude. Her interests focus on contemporary art regarding the politics of representation, Cold War histories, and feminist studies. She intends to intern at a contemporary arts venue during her year with CBYX, and hopes to be a professor of art history in the future. |
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Amanda ChowMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Amanda Chow recently graduated from Brown University with a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Mathematics and Economics. She intends to study at a university in Germany to learn about economic policy and international trade. She hopes to pursue a future career in public service. |
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Maya Marrero EnglishMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Maya Marrero English is a recent graduate from Oberlin College. As an Economics major and a Comparative American studies minor, Maya served as an officer of the Oberlin student finance and investment club, a Bonner Scholar and a member of the Women and Trans Economics Committee. Maya is passionate about urban policy and sustainable development. As a fellow, Maya looks forward to working on mission related projects and improving her German language skills. In the future Maya hopes to attend graduate school in International development. |
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Shannon PiersonMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Shannon Pierson recently graduated from the University of Washington with a major in International Studies, with a focus on human rights and cybersecurity policy. She will be working as a Research Assistant Intern for The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, a DC think tank, until she leaves for Germany in January. There, she assists the center's Disinformation Fellow on research into social media regulation practices and online sexualized disinformation campaigns against women in public life. She intends to pursue an internship at a policy think tank in Berlin to learn about Germany's approach to crafting artificial intelligence (AI) policy and social media regulations. She hopes to one day become both a national security and technology policy expert. She hopes to serve the US government as a public servant in the future and to help facilitate collaboration between democratic governments and Silicon Valley to help address the challenges posed to democracies by disinformation and cybersecurity threats. |
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Samuel ShainMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Samuel Shain recently graduated from NC State University with a major in International Studies (concentration in Global Sustainability & Development) as well as minors in Business Administration, Economics, and Science, Technology & Society (STS). He will be interning at Stanford University's Center for Social Innovation and Kiva until he leaves for Germany in January. He intends to pursue an internship at a venture fund in Germany to learn more about sustainable social businesses. He hopes to apply his learnings to a career geared towards financially self-sustaining companies dedicated to reducing global poverty. |
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Sophia SilaneMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Sophia Silane recently graduated from Pitzer College with a double major in Studio Art and Art History. She will continue running her small business of jewelry making and selling reworked thrifted clothing until leaving for Germany in January. She hopes to intern under an artist or art institution in Germany, as she specifically studies German historical and contemporary artwork. |
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Katherine Van KirkMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Katherine Van Kirk is a Chemistry and General Biology major at the University of California San Diego. She also works part-time as an Assistant Project Manager at a UCSD laboratory investigating autoimmune diseases. During her sojourn in Germany, she intends to secure an internship in researching immune systems or genetic disorders. Among other things, she is particularly inspired by Germany’s openness to international cooperation in research and hopes to establish connections across academic fields and professions as a participant in the CBYX program. |
Connecticut
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Patrick Kornegay, Jr.Most Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Patrick Kornegay Jr. recently graduated from the University of Connecticut, studying political science with a German minor. He also recently completed a service year with AmeriCorps in Wilmington, Delaware, serving as an English tutor for high schoolers. He is currently job hunting in Connecticut before leaving for Germany in January. He is hoping to intern in either a think tank or research center for international relations and learning about foreign policy through the German lens. He hopes to one day get his masters and then work in Washington, D.C. or Germany in either a think tank or the State Department in a role that contributes to the German-American relationship. |
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Elizabeth WarnerMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Liz Warner graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in 2018 with a double major in Plan II and History. She has been working as a consultant for a digital transformation company while living and exploring Austin. She intends to find an internship at a sustainable business consultancy and is looking forward to learning about urbanism and policy while in Germany. |
Florida
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Jamauri BryanMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Jamauri Bryan recently graduated from the University of Florida with a major in Family, Youth, & Community Sciences and a minor in International Studies. He will be working at a local summer camp and then transitioning to work in his college town before heading to Germany in January. He intends to study Community Sciences and International Communication at a German University. He also plans to volunteer at a local NGO to gain a clear understanding of the German social service sector. In the future, he hopes to build a career as a cross-cultural trainer helping organizations to increase their global mobility. |
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Gillian DaleyMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Gillian Elizabeth Daley is a recent graduate of Florida International University, graduated Cum Laude with a double major in International Relations and Political Science, with two certificates in National Security and Public Policy. Her civic engagement and activism started in 2016 when she founded an after-school program focused on discussing race, tolerance, and political action. Since then, she has spoken at Princeton, worked closely with the United Nations Foundation; serving as a Delegate to the 63rd Commission on the Status of Women, speaking to students at the UNHQ, and working as the youth representative for the Southern regional United States. Gillian also interned for Florida Senator Manny Diaz Jr. and currently interns for Florida Representative Shevrin Jones and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and most recently as a Fellow for a IGNITE National, a political organization focused on grassroots activism and women’s rights. |
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Parmiss KhosraviMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Parmiss Khosravi graduated from Georgia Tech in 2019 with a degree in Materials Science & Engineering. She is currently working for a 3D printing company in Cambridge, MA until she leaves to further her studies at a German university. Parmiss hopes to develop a better understanding of how science is approached outside of the U.S. |
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Abigail MegginsonMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Abigail Megginson graduated in spring 2019 from the University of West Florida with a double major in Journalism and Political Science. She currently works at a news media company in Washington, D.C. as a production assistant until she departs for Germany in January. Abigail hopes to pursue an internship with a German news organization to broaden her knowledge of Germany and different reporting styles. Her goal is to work as a foreign correspondent covering international affairs for a U.S. publication or broadcasting station. |
Georgia
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Irene ChoMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Irene Cho (Haeun) is a junior at Georgia Institute of Technology pursing a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Computer Science and degree designation in International Plan. Before leaving for Germany in January, she will be working as a Controls Engineer Co-Op at the BMW plant in South Carolina and studying at Georgia Tech. She intends to complete her Co-Op rotation at the BMW plant in Leipzig with the Control Technology and Maintenance Digitalization team. She hopes to eventually work on automotive research & design and machine learning. |
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Colin MurphyMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Colin Murphy is a 2020 graduate of Tufts University, where he studied Computer Science and German. Until January, he will continue interning for a cybersecurity company based in the DC area, where he researches recent cyber espionage campaigns. In Germany, he plans to pursue an internship focused on cybersecurity policy. After the program, he hopes to continue working in the American cybersecurity sphere before pursuing an advanced degree in Germany. |
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Daniela RuizMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Daniela Ruiz graduated from Northwestern University in 2018 with a major in Chemical and Biological Engineering. She will continue working within the biotechnology industry until she leaves for Germany in January. She intends to pursue university classes in Germany to learn about public health, epidemiology or biostatistics, in the hopes of expanding her knowledge about healthcare across the world and in Germany. One day, she hopes to work in government health departments within the United States and abroad. |
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Kaiwen WangMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Kaiwen Wang is a rising sophomore at Georgia Tech studying Mechanical Engineering. He hopes to visit cool technical events such as the 2021 Hannover Trade Fair, German Formula Student teams, and learn about the future of engineering and manufacturing. Once back in the United States, he hopes to start a business addressing the needs of the upcoming Industry 4.0. The things he’s most looking forward to are making friends during the program, increasing in German fluency, and continuing to pursue German language and culture back in the United States. |
Illinois
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Zane CreekMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Zane Creek graduated from the University of Missouri - St. Louis in 2019 with a dual major bachelor's degree in international business administration and German studies. He has since continued his entrepreneurial efforts, worked as a technology solutions consultant, and now works as a social media manager at FarFetched, an independent music label in St. Louis, MO. Pursuing an education in the business side of the German music industry, Zane plans to marry this experience with his knowledge of American business and his passion for everything music. He ultimately hopes to work in a production studio or music label in Germany, proliferating and enabling the voices and messages of musicians and artists worldwide. |
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Anastasia KallishMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Anastasia Kallish recently finished her Associates Degree from College of DuPage with an interest in International Relations and Cultural Studies. She will continue working at DANK Haus German American Cultural Center in the Kinderschule and being an active member on their Programming Committee. She intends to continue furthering her knowledge in International Relations and Cultural Studies during her time in Germany this coming year, where she will pursue her Bachelor's Degree. |
Indiana
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Hannah BenchikMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Hannah Benchik recently graduated from Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, IN with a major in Business Administration, concentrating in International Business and Marketing with a minor in German Language and Literature from the University of Notre Dame. She will be working at a library until she leaves for Germany in January, where she hopes to pursue an internship at a museum to learn about art conservation and preservation in addition to the museum industry. She hopes to one day work in a library or art museum doing preservation, conservation, and/or archival work focused in German history and literature. |
Kansas
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Gabriel DorseyMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Gabe graduated from the University of Kansas in May of 2019 with degrees in political science and German studies. He currently works at the Kansas Statehouse and plans to pursue a government internship when in Germany. |
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Natalie MillerMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Natalie Miller currently attends the University of Kansas with a major in Political Science and a minor in German Studies. She will be working at a rock-climbing gym until she leaves for Germany in January. She intends to pursue the university portion of the program to garner knowledge as she hopes to one day pursue global political activism. |
Kentucky
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Shelby BrowningMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Shelby Browning is a recent graduate from the University of Kentucky with her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and an environmental engineering certification. Shelby has spent the past seven years working on developing sustainable engineering practices and solutions in underdeveloped regions, specifically East Africa. She plans on starting graduate school at UK and take courses for the fall semester. Her time in Germany will be spent interning at an engineering firm, developing both professional relationships and technical expertise. |
Maryland
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Trevonn GylesMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Trevonn Gyles recently graduated from Morehouse College with a Bachelor of Science in biology. In Germany he plans to intern at the Max Planck institute of Psychiatry. While at Max Planck Trevonn will be conducting translation research in Psychiatry focused on major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Following medical school, Trevonn hopes to open his own research lab in Germany. |
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Hannah LaneMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Hannah Lane graduated from Goucher College in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in History with minors in Africana Studies and Historic Preservation. Currently she lives in Baltimore City, where she works as a librarian in the African American Department at the Enoch Pratt Free Library. Hannah also serves on the steering committee of Goucher College’s Hallowed Ground Project, an initiative to study and memorialize the history of slavery on the college’s land. Hannah will continue in these roles until she departs for Germany, where she is very excited to study German and to continue pursuing her interest in histories of the African Diaspora in Germany. |
Massachusetts
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Jesse GirrellMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Jesse Girrell recently graduated from UMass Amherst with a major in Psychology and minors in German, Education, and Mathematics. He will be working as a teacher and managerial assistant at a preschool until he leaves for Germany in January. He intends to pursue an internship in a German primary school. He aspires to be an innovative elementary school teacher or administrator. |
Michigan
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Ruth SelipskyMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Ruth Selipsky recently graduated from the University of Chicago with a major in Political Science and minor in German Studies. Before heading to Germany in January, she plans to volunteer for local political campaigns and spend time with her family. She intends to take university courses about political science, sociology, and law during her time in Germany. After this program, she hopes to work at a law firm that interacts with both American and German clients, or to pursue a career in policy and international relations. |
Minnesota
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Luke WestawkerMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Luke Westawker recently graduated from Carleton College with a double major in Chemistry and German. He looks forward to conducting computational chemistry research this fall at the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) while going on backpacking trips in his free time. During his time in Germany, he intends to pursue an internship in environmental policy to learn more about the Energiewende. Following the CBYX program, he will enroll in a doctoral program in chemistry in hopes of pursuing a career in science policy. |
Missouri
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Melody HollarMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Melody Hollar recently finished her third year at The University of Montana pursuing a double major in Ecosystem Science & Restoration and Philosophy with a minor in Environmental Studies. She is interested in applying natural systems to problems related to urbanization and climate change and intends to complete an internship in sustainable technology in Germany. She eventually hopes to apply the approaches she learns in the program to issues in municipal policy in the United States. |
Montana
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Jason KoehnMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Jason Koehn recently graduated from American University, where he majored in International Relations. He will be starting at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in the fall, before leaving for Germany in January. He intends to pursue an internship with an international development or diplomacy organization in Germany. |
Nebraska
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Gerald FraasMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Gerald Fraas is a 2019 graduate of the University of Alabama with a degrees in Economics and Political Science. He will continue working for the Nebraska State Legislature until he leaves for Germany in January. He intends to pursue an internship with a manufacturing firm in Germany to learn about European supply chain operation and North American/European trade relations. |
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Patrick HodsonMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Patrick Hodson recently graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha with a degree in Business Administration with concentrations in Accounting, Investment Science, Banking and Financial Markets, and Business Finance. Patrick will be attending a university in Germany in order to compliment the business education he has begun building in the United States. He is currently preparing for his CPA exams and hopes the international experience in Germany will make him a more well-rounded and educated professional as he prepares for a career in an increasingly interconnected world. |
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Kathy NguyenMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Kathy Nguyen is a recent graduate of the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a native of Omaha, Nebraska. The communication studies and journalism and media communication double major has a passion for storytelling and building authentic connections. Whether it's social media copy or long-form copy, writing is her preferred method of breaking barriers and sharing perspectives. She has a budding career in content creation and copywriting and hopes to grow in these relevant fields. When she's not focusing on her career, she loves exploring off the beaten path, learning new cultures, and expanding her views on the world. As the daughter of Vietnamese immigrants, she's very proud of her multicultural upbringing. |
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Corinne PetersonMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Corinne Peterson graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University in December of 2019 with a double major in Psychology and Modern Language Studies. With a passion for language and cultural learning, she hopes to pursue an internship in foreign and cultural affairs. Until leaving for Germany, she will be working at a restaurant in Omaha. |
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Michael ThompsonMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Michael Thompson graduated from the University of Nebraska Omaha last December with a dual degree, receiving a Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Sustainability and Bachelor of Arts in German with a minor in philosophy. He owns his own vintage furniture refinishing business that he will continue up until the program start. In Germany he plans to attend university to learn more about sustainability in Germany while expanding his knowledge of the German language and culture. Upon returning to the US he hopes to use what he has learned about sustainability/environmental practices to further the environmental movement in the US to help create a livable planet for generations to come. |
New Jersey
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Rachel RizzoMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Rachel Rizzo graduated in 2018 from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. She will be working at the United States Patent and Trademark Office until she leaves for Germany in January. Rachel intends to pursue university in Germany to further her education in biomedical engineering, as she hopes to apply her degree and previous work experience in human systems engineering to a career in accessible design. |
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Jonah Salzman-CohenMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Jonah Salzman-Cohen is a Forester at the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, with over two years of professional experience in Vermont, Germany, Utah, and Washington. He graduated with a degree in Forestry and a minor in German from the University of Vermont in 2018. He cannot wait to return to the forests of Germany, improve his professional and linguistic skills, and meet many new people and trees. |
New York
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William AvisMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
William Avis graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a degree in Industrial Design and a minor in entrepreneurship. He has experience in custom home building and furniture design. While living and working in Germany he hopes to learn from German craftspeople while exploring the German apprenticeship model to then apply that information in America. |
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Alberta EshenourMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Alberta Eshenour recently graduated with honors from the State University of New York College at Geneseo, where she studied International Relations, Public Administration, and German. Alberta also spent a semester studying European politics and German at the Freie Universität Berlin. She will be interning for Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer until the start of the program in January. While in Germany, Alberta plans to pursue an internship in the field of public policy, as she believes policy makers in the United States can earn a great deal from the Germans. |
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Lukas GriffinMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Lukas Griffin recently graduated from Oberlin College with a major in Computer Science. He plans to work at a restaurant before I leave for Germany in January. He intends to pursue a computer science internship in Germany. In doing so, he hopes to immerse himself in the culture and improve his understanding of the German language. He looks forward to his departure in January. |
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Caroline Lee-JeongMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Caroline Lee-Jeong is a recent graduate of Columbia University with a bachelor’s in English and Comparative Literature. She will be trying to revive her inner German spirit until the beginning of the program while auditing classes at a local university. She intends to pursue an internship at a local theater in Germany as a production assistant while taking classes in dramaturgy and drama theory. She hopes that her experience in Germany will prove to be fodder for her career as a playwright and a reader. |
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Zoë ShannonMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Zoë Shannon (she/her) is a recent graduate of Binghamton University where she double majored in Middle East & North Africa studies and history with a minor in human rights. Her interests include collecting oral histories, playing with her dog, and listening to podcasts. Zoë plans to intern in an archive or museum while in Germany. She would like to support the preservation of marginalized stories and is passionate about the democratization of history. |
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Ryan StrickMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Ryan Strick recently graduated from Binghamton University with a double major in Urban and Regional Planning and Political Science. He intends to study city planning at a German university to learn about German urbanism and what makes cities livable. He hopes to bring this knowledge back to the United States when working for a municipal planning agency. |
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Samantha VelezMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Samantha Velez graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 2018. As an International Trade and Marketing major, she conducted research on smart manufacturing while in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Recently, she has worked as a Global Logistics Associate at an apparel manufacturer. In Germany, she would like to obtain a supply chain related internship. In the future, Samantha considers launching her own business, either product driven or providing operational services. |
North Carolina
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Peyton CarringtonMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Peyton Carrington is studying communications, event management, and marketing at High Point University. She will be working as a campus concierge in the Fall for her university, where she will gain experience in the internal operations and events of High Point University. She hopes to pursue an internship in Germany working with events in the hospitality and tourism industry. While in Germany, she looks forward to learning the skills needed to work in the international event industry long-term. |
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Brooke ConradMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Brooke Conrad graduated in 2019 from Hillsdale College where she majored in English, with minors in journalism and German. She worked the past year at a state policy journal in Raleigh, North Carolina and now freelances for various publications. She is seeking a journalism internship in Germany and, after the program, she may pursue either foreign correspondence or foreign affairs reporting in Washington, D.C. |
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Quinton MooreMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Quinton Dayne Moore is a recent graduate from North Carolina State University with a bachelor's degree in both Communication and German Studies. He is working at a local record store and pursuing video production internships before leaving for Germany in January. He intends to intern with a German film studio during his time there. His dream is to work behind the scenes on a German-American co-produced feature film. |
Pennsylvania
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Joseph DesmoneMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Joseph Desmone recently graduated from American University with a bachelor’s degree in International Studies. They will continue volunteering at the Capital Area Immigrants Right’s Coalition until they leave for Germany in January. They intend to pursue an internship at an organization that will build on their skills related to migration and human rights. Joey hopes to one day become a Political Foreign Service Officer at the Department of State. |
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Andrew HalzaMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Andrew Halza will be graduating in December from Case Western Reserve University with a dual degree in Biology and German. Currently, he is working as a researcher on proteins related to wheat allergies. Andrew is eager to pursue an internship related to food science to build an understanding of German food culture and public health. In the future, Andrew hopes to incorporate his food science experiences in Germany as a physician. |
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Juliana LandisMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Juliana Landis recently graduated from the University of Vermont with a double major in Environmental Science and Economics. While in Germany she intends to pursue an internship in sustainable urban planning. Juliana is also very excited to learn German! She hopes to bring back what she learns to help create more resilient and just communities in the United States. |
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William SumnerMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Will Sumner recently graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a major in Computer Engineering and a certificate in German. Currently, he is freelancing as software developer. He intends to pursue an internship relating to software development in Germany, where he hopes to improve his written and oral German, as well as increase his understanding of software development practices from an international perspective. |
Puerto Rico
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Gabriel NegrónMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Gabriel Negrón is a 21-year-old student at the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico in San Juan. Before they leave for Germany in January, they will be focusing on finishing up their BA in Economics and minor in German, as well as carry out research. They aspire to find an internship in Germany that will allow them to conduct research, analysis and forecasts on economic topics of interests in Germany, Europe and the international community. Their dream is to one day be a professor and researcher at their alma mater. |
South Carolina
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Roberta LancasterMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Recent Graduate from The Culinary Institute of America, Roberta Lancaster, with both an associate's degree in Baking and Pastry Arts and a Bachelor in Food Business Administration will be participating in the 37th CBYX (PPP) exchange program. She leaves for Germany in January and intends to pursue educational course learning during her time in the program. During the current trials of the food industry she will soak up as much culture and knowledge as she can in order to implement it and forge ahead in the recovering hospitality world combing both her training in America and in Germany. |
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Matthew MartinMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Matthew Martin recently graduated from Furman University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and a Biochemistry concentration. Upon arrival in Germany in January, he intends to pursue an internship in the public sector to explore his interest in international science and technology policy. Aided by the cultural exchange he will experience through the CBYX program, he hopes to continue a career in such a policy area following completion of a graduate degree, with the ultimate goal of helping shape US science policy as a public servant. |
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Piper PowellMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Piper Powell recently graduated from Furman University with a B.S. in Psychology and German Studies. She will be working with a mental health organization and a local technology company until she leaves for Germany in January. She intends to pursue an internship with a neuroscience research laboratory to gain experience with advanced neuroimaging and data processing techniques. Her ultimate dream is to be part of a team that develops technology that allows images from the imagination to be displayed on digital screens. |
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Robert SpencerMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Robert Spencer recently graduated from the University of South Carolina as a double Political Science and German major. During his time at USC, Robert became interested in politics and labor rights in this increasingly tense political climate. Robert hopes to find an internship in either a political party or labor organization that will help him understand labor movements not only in the United States, but in Germany, and the world. Upon returning to the Unites States, he hopes to attend law school and study labor and employment law. |
South Dakota
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Jessie AllcockMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Jessie Allcock recently graduated from Elmhurst College with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. Prior to leaving for Germany, she will be working as a caregiver, at a family restaurant, and finishing her application to dental school. She plans to pursue an internship in a German dental office and learn medical German so she can cater to German-speaking clients when she works as a dentist abroad. |
Texas
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Caroline BikMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Caroline Bik recently graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering, a minor in Business, a minor in Dutch, and a certificate in Humanitarian Engineering. Until she leaves for Germany in January, she will be providing childcare, assisting with landscaping her parent's home, and preparing for a postgraduate degree. She hopes to pursue an internship related to Project Management within the Airline Industry or an Operations internship with a non-profit while she is in Germany. She looks forward to engaging with local German communities and learning more about German culture. |
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Andrew HitscherichMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Andrew Hitscherich graduated summa cum laude from Texas A&M University with a bachelor's degree in Business Honors and Finance. Andrew will continue to work in financial services until he leaves for Germany in January. While in Germany, Andrew hopes to attend a university and study foreign affairs or international relations. At the conclusion of the program, Andrew aspires to have made some lifelong friendships, enhanced his German language skills, and become a more global citizen. |
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Karolyn NewtonMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Karolyn Newton graduated from St. Edward's University in 2019 with a degree in Environmental Science and Policy. Since then, she has been working as an instructor and studio manager at Meditation Bar and has served as a Food and Leadership Fellow at Urban Roots, a sustainable urban farm addressing local food injustice. In Germany, she intends to pursue a sustainable agriculture internship to gain experience with food production and German environmental policy. Her goal is to improve public health and environmental quality by helping communities become empowered through "guerrilla gardening" and community farming to increase access to healthy food and cultivate connection with nature, particularly where communities have suffered environmental injustice. |
Virginia
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Cameron BrandonMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Cameron Brandon recently graduated from the University of Virginia with a double major in Foreign Affairs and German Studies. He hopes to be able to intern in a foreign policy-focused think tank or news organization during his time in Germany. He intends to pursue a career within the foreign policy arena. Cameron loves to cook, hike, and read in his spare time. |
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Harrison BrannerMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Harrison Branner recently graduated from Duke University with dual degrees in Environmental Science and Public Policy Studies, with a minor in German. His concentration was energy policy and technology. He grew up in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, where he spent his childhood raising bees and chickens among forested mountains and rolling cow fields. While at Duke University, he studied at the Duke Marine Lab, and abroad at Humboldt University in Berlin. He participated in the Seattle DukeEngage program and was a Stanback Fellow. His favorite place on campus was the Duke Campus Farm. His senior year, he also conducted research on fern genetics with the Pryer Lab. He is looking forward to the opportunity to spend time in Germany learning about German energy policy, as well as cultural and language exchange. He hopes to bring back insights from the German Energiewende to apply to the energy transition in the United States. |
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Holland CatheyMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Holland Cathey graduated from the University of Virginia in 2018 with a double major in German Literature and Global Sustainability. Since graduation, she's been living in Cambridge, MA and working at MIT Solve, an organization committed to supporting social entrepreneurs around the world through partnership and open innovation. Holland is looking forward to living in Germany to hone her language skills and learn how to build sustainable, equitable cities. |
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Billy HughesMost Recent Educational Institution: Professional Field: |
Billy Hughes graduated as the valedictorian of the Woodgrove High School class of 2020. During his time at Woodgrove, he served as class president, played varsity basketball, and volunteered for his town’s local rescue squad. He enjoyed tutoring in his school’s Math Lab and Writing Center and, as a senior, discovered a true passion for the German language. He plans to combine his two loves of language and teaching by studying Linguistics at Columbia University on his way to becoming a rare languages professor. As a recipient of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals scholarship, Billy will spend the next year with a host family while taking language classes at a German university and representing the United States as a cultural ambassador. |
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Diana SosaMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Diana Sosa is a recent graduate of Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service where she studied international affairs and development. She has recently completed a senate internship through the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute and is working virtually this summer for the U.S. London Embassy. In Germany, Diana hopes to engage actively with her local university and continue her coursework in international affairs. Diana believes her CBYX experience is the perfect opportunity to improve her German, immerse herself in a new culture, and prepare for her intended career in diplomacy. |
Vermont
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Allan WheelerMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Allan Wheeler Graduated from Vermont Technical College in 2018 with a major in Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology. Since graduating in 2018 he has been working as an Engineer Technician for the Army Corps of Engineers in an Engineering Research lab known as the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory. He intends to pursue further education by studying Engineering at a German University and learning about the German language and culture. He hopes to take the connections he makes in Germany back to the United States and collaborate with German Engineers and Scientists as part of his career in research and development. |
Washington
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Allison CharoniMost Recent Educational Institution: Area of Study: Professional Field: |
Allison works in media production, producing videos and podcasts, in Seattle. She studied Cinema and Digital Arts and Experimental Media at the University of Washington. Since graduation Allison has worked in film distribution, editing, and production in Seattle and Los Angeles, and is looking forward to learning more about the German film industry through an internship in film production. |