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Posted September 16, 2024
Seven Plymouth High School students were able to spend part of the summer learning and exploring in a foreign country, thanks to CIEE Global Navigator Scholarships and AFS Intercultural Programs.
“I learned a lot, I improved my Spanish skills, and I learned about the importance of friends from all around the world,” said Ava Jaeckels, who spent July 9 to 25 in Spain.
As part of her AFS-sponsored program, Ava went to classes every morning and enjoyed different activities every night for two weeks in Vallodolid. Her group then stayed in dorms in Madrid and explored that city.
“My favorite moments were either when we stayed up all night the night before we left, or when we went to see the city of Salamanca as a big group,” she said.
Mara Kohlman also was in Spain in July, in Barcelona with CIEE. She took excursions to different places, had classes in the afternoon, and then enjoyed free time. “One of the best highlights was going to Parc de Ciutadella and watching people dance with my host mom,” she said. “Another highlight would be going to La Sagrada Familia – it was super pretty.”
Mara said she learned a lot about the artist Gaudi as well as a lot of new words and phrases. “At night my host mom would quiz us on words and what they would be in Spanish,” she said.
Ava Miller was in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, from June 7 to July 8 with CIEE. She stayed with a local family and had morning activities to help practice Spanish in the community, then Spanish class for three hours later in the day.
“I learned so much about their culture and also improved my Spanish skills,” she said. “My favorite part was our weekend trip to Alcudia.”
All three encourage other students to take similar trips if possible. “This is a trip of a lifetime, and if the opportunity comes for you to travel take it,” Ava Jaeckels said.
Ava Miller agreed. “It was life changing, and I’ve met so many new people,” she said.
Mara said it was scary going to a new place – but so worth it in the end. “You meet so many new people and increase your Spanish vocabulary,” she said.
Additional Global Navigators from PHS:
The Council on International Educational Exchange, founded in 1947, is a nonprofit organization promoting international education and exchange. Scholarship recipients are selected by CIEE from the school’s applicants based on both merit and financial need.
PHS students can apply now for CIEE Global Navigator Scholarships for travel during the summer of 2025. Applications are due Jan. 15; apply by Nov. 1 for a chance to fly free. An Application Workshop will be held from 2:45 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday Oct. 24 in PHS Room B225, with an informational meeting for interested PHS students and their parents/guardians that evening at 6 p.m.(new time) in the PHS Library .
This will be the eighth year that PHS receives scholarships. In 2023, two students went to Spain and Portugal. In 2022, three students went to Spain, Germany, and Mexico. In 2020, one student went to Costa Rica. In 2019, five students went to the Dominican Republic, England, Germany, and Spain. In 2018, 12 students visited Germany, Ghana, Mexico, Morocco, Portugal, and Spain. In 2017, four PHS students studied in Botswana, the Dominican Republic, France and Thailand. In 2016, nine students went to Botswana, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Germany, Mexico, and Spain.
This scholarship program aims to make AFS study abroad programs accessible to students from all financial backgrounds with more than $1 million in merit and need-based awards to support students in summer, semester, and year programs.
an additional meeting about AFS hosting and traveling will be held Nov 6th at 6pm in the PHS library. Here are additional scholarships due in November and December:
• Contact PHS language teacher Laura Koebel at lkoebel@plymouth.k12.wi.us or 920-893-6911 ext. 1225
• Visit the CIEE High School Study Abroad website.
• Visit the AFS Study Abroad website.
• Visit the Innovative Opportunities section of our interactive, award-winning District Report Card to learn more about the unparalleled opportunities for international experiences available to our students.
