Each year, iE-USA proudly recognizes outstanding international exchange students who have made a meaningful impact in their schools, communities, and host families. Through our Student Recognition Awards, host parents, local coordinators, and staff members nominate students who exemplify excellence in academics, athletics, community involvement, volunteer service, and cultural exchange.
This year, we received dozens of incredible nominations. The following students were selected as recipients of the 2025–26 iE-USA Student Recognition Awards.
Join us in celebrating these exceptional students and the lasting impact they have made during their exchange experience in the United States. (See someone you know? Be sure to shout them out on our Facebook or Instagram page!)
ACADEMICS
For international exchange students, doing well academically is about more than just earning good grades. It means adapting to a new school system, learning in a different language, building confidence in unfamiliar classrooms, and embracing opportunities for growth along the way.
The nominees for our Academic Student Recognition Award have done exactly that. Through hard work, curiosity, and a commitment to learning, these students have achieved remarkable success during their study abroad experience at a U.S. high school.
WINNER, nominated by Local Coordinator Natalie
“Juan is such a sweet soul. He has been able to maintain all A’s this year while being in advanced art and playing Soccer. This student is conscientious in his studies while easily engaging in the social scene of school and extracurriculars. . . Juan has been sure to live life to the fullest, travel with his host family, be a part of a team and think about the collective culture rather than just himself, and is well-liked and accepted by all. I am so proud of this student and his constant effort to excel in all areas of his exchange year. He has new family members for life, and he is going to be an Uncle this fall because his older host brother is having a son! Uncle Juan will be ready for his new title just as he was for his academic school year.”
ATHLETICS
Friday night football games, packed gyms, team practices, and school spirit are all iconic parts of the American high school experience. For many international exchange students, athletics provide a unique opportunity to build friendships, develop new skills, and become part of their school community in a meaningful way.
Our Athletics Award nominees fully embraced this aspect of life in the United States. Whether they excelled in a familiar sport or stepped outside their comfort zone to try something completely new, each nominee demonstrated dedication, teamwork, perseverance, and enthusiasm throughout their exchange year.
WINNER, nominated by Host Dad Tim
“Marco lettered in three sports during his exchange: volleyball, swimming, and tennis. A ‘walk-on’ on all three teams as a junior, he particularly excelled in volleyball, earning himself a spontaneous crowd-generated chant of ‘Marco’ with a response of ‘Polo’ for his volleyball ‘kills.’ He was selected as Offensive Player of the Year for the Team and was selected by the 6A Region coaches for Virginia Second Team All-Regional. He will be fondly remembered for his humor, sportsmanship, and athleticism (mostly humor) during his exchange year by his teammates on all three teams and classmates alike. Future IE students will benefit from the goodwill Marco has created.”
COMMUNITY
Building a life in a new country takes more than courage – it takes a knack for getting connected. Becoming part of a host family, making new friends, and finding a place within the local community are some of the most meaningful and rewarding parts of the exchange experience.
Our Community Award nominees embraced these opportunities wholeheartedly. Through their kindness, engagement, and willingness to connect with others, they helped strengthen the bonds that make student exchange such a life-changing experience.
WINNER, nominated by Host Mom Ashley
“Lilly surpassed all expectations as a family member who truly felt meant to be part of our lives. We signed up as a welcome family, but we quickly recommitted to keeping Lilly in our home for the entire year. My husband & I are heavily involved in foster care & adoption ministry through our church often hosting young children in our home. During Lilly’s second week with us, we welcomed children in need. Instead of withdrawing, Lilly immediately jumped in to help. She embraced our ever-changing family dynamic with openness & maturity, and has become both a daughter & a close friend to me. She has set an incredible example of what it means to embrace a completely new culture & way of life with open hands, an open heart, and grace.”
VOLUNTEERING
Community service is an important part of both the iE exchange experience and American culture. As part of their program, all iE students are required to complete at least 10 hours of volunteer service during their time in the United States. While every contribution big or small creates a meaningful ripple effect in their host communities, some students go far beyond the requirement, embracing service as an opportunity to connect with their host community and make a lasting difference.
Through their generosity, compassion, and willingness to help others, our Volunteering Award nominees exemplified the spirit of giving back. We’re so proud of the ways our students showed up for their host communities this year!
WINNER, nominated by Host Mom Sharon
“In ten months, Yvonne has not simply participated in American student life — she has enriched every corner of it. Yvonne embraced faith community life fully, attending Calvary Church on Sunday mornings and Calvary Youth Group on Wednesday evenings — not as an observer, but as a genuine, relationship-building member. Her volunteer service went far above and beyond: she led cheer clinics for elementary students, worked with children at church and school, staffed a music department fundraiser, refereed volleyball games, and decorated for a Calvary Champions Club booster dinner. She did not wait to be asked — she showed up. Despite this remarkable load — conducted largely in a second language — Yvonne maintained a 3.83 GPA and visited 13 states. She leaves behind coaches, teammates, church friends, and a host family who will miss her deeply. She represented her home country with grace and left her host school better than she found it.”
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE AMBASSADORS
The iE Ambassador Award recognizes students who fully embraced the purpose of cultural exchange and made the most of every aspect of their exchange experience. Because outstanding ambassadors are found in communities across the country, one recipient is selected from each iE region: East, Midwest, North Central, South Central, and West.
These students immersed themselves in American culture and daily life while proudly sharing their own traditions, perspectives, and experiences with their host families, schools, and communities. Through these meaningful cultural exchanges, they helped foster greater understanding between people from different backgrounds and countries.
These students faced the challenges that come with living in a new country and adapting to a different culture. What set them apart was their resilience, positive attitude, and commitment to growth. They embodied the mission of the student exchange programs established by the U.S. Department of State, serving as ambassadors for their home countries and helping to build the mutual understanding, friendship, and global connections that are at the heart of public diplomacy and international exchange.
EAST REGION WINNER, nominated by Local Coordinator Natalie
“Max started in early August conditioning for the soccer season in the Spring. He worked out, trained, formed relationships, and, because of his hard work, was chosen by his peers to be the Captain of the Varsity Soccer team. He exhibited strong leadership skills on and off the field. Max went to all the dances, worked hard in his classes, attended many sporting events, and always with a great attitude. He approaches life very maturely and has established his reputation of being quiet but adding value to the conversation when he does speak. Max was also recognized at church as a stand-out volunteer. He ran the coffee bar for the duration of his exchange year. The church awarded him with a commemorative coin. Max has been a wonderful son to his host father, Brandon, and a protective big brother to his much younger host siblings. He takes time with his siblings and finds ways to make them feel special and helps out around the house as much as he can without being asked.”
MIDWEST REGION WINNER, nominated by Host Mom Elaine
“Bea embraced being in a small rural farming community. She quickly made friends, joined cheer, and decided to try softball for spring. She did not shy away from tough classes like anatomy, trig/calc, and website design. She did double the amount of community service than required. During one of our first family dinners, I noticed her phone was lighting up, and a call or FaceTime was coming through. We told her it was ok to answer. Her response was, ‘No, I am here with you; he can wait.’ She has truly become a member of our family, even attending church with us and higlighting passages in her American Bible. Able hold a serious conversation with me especially cooking together, joke with my husband, do all the silly teen stuff with her host sister and form a bond with my other 2 whom are in college!”
NORTH CENTRAL REGION WINNER, nominated by Host Mom Bethany
“Jorge stepped into the role of oldest sibling without coaching – teasing them when they had it coming, snuggling on the couch during movie nights, cheering at their games. Our kids call him their brother. Academically, he carried a full course load earning nearly straight As – while studying all year for Spain’s PAU university entrance exam. He played JV soccer in the fall, joined the ski team in the winter, and this spring made the varsity lacrosse team – a sport he had never heard of before coming to the US. All year, without being asked, Jorge has shoveled our neighbor’s driveway after every snowfall, taken her garbage bins to the curb weekly, and helped her with yardwork and moving boxes. Jorge leaves our home this summer as our third child – full stop. This is not goodbye. His room will be here. His family will be here. He has changed us in ways we will carry for the rest of our lives, and our children will carry even longer. We are so incredibly proud of him. We love him. Plain and simple.”
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION WINNER, nominated by Host Mom Kelli
“Anni is the most adaptable, amenable, pliable, amicable, and adventurous teenager I’ve ever met. Upon her arrival, Anni was gracious and respectful. She immediately jumped in to activities that helped us get acquainted. She joined clubs, went to sporting events, joined us for travel and family occasions, made her own friends and embraced her host family’s friends. She loved and engaged with all our pets (six cats and three dogs), and adored our grandkids. If things went according to plan or not, Anni was easy going and helpful, cheerful and energetic. Anni has attended socials and dances and competitions at school. She has attended church services, student ministry events, devotional weekends, and small group Bible study. She’s loved and appreciated everywhere she goes, for her sweet nature and her contributions. Anni has truly grasped what it means to dive in to the culture. Anni is truly exceptional and we love her forever!”
WEST REGION WINNER, nominated by Host Mom Angela
“Lara continues to get straight A’s even though she is on the tennis team and having to miss lot of classes. She also missed school to attend a family trip. She shares her day at school with us, and loves school.”
Congratulations to each of our winners and nominees – we’re so proud of you for representing your home countries AND International Experience, and wish you all the best as you close out this exciting chapter.
Want to read more student success stories?
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- Ever wondered what it’s like to be County Treasurer for a day? iE Student Pauline got to find out!
- What’s it REALLY like to be an international exchange student? Former iE students spill. 👀