Journey to Costa Rica: Gwen (Leonard) McNamara’s AFS Story
In this article, Gwen McNamara describes her journey to Costa Rica with AFS in 1974 and a recent reunion with her AFS family. I was 15 in November 1973 when…
Author: sgraney
Family Forever: A Host Family’s Reunion
August from Norway reunites with his host family in the USA after 10 years.
How Do Our Students Get Here?
Introduction Have you ever wondered what the AFS student application and selection process entails? What makes a great candidate for intercultural exchange and how does AFS determine this? There are…
A Poem by CBYX Student, Lena Rehder
Lena R., an exchange student from Germany studying in the U.S. through the CBYX program, shared her AFS experience with us through a poem. Lina’s inspiration to write this poem…
Volunteer Spotlight: Sue Fershing
In honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month, we’re highlighting Sue Fershing, a longtime AFS volunteer and host parent. Here’s what she had to say about her experience with AFS-USA over the…
Alumni Spotlight: Abby Verrando
In this article, Abby Verrando, a California high school student in her junior year, responds to a series of questions about her experience in the AFS Youth Ambassador Sustainability Program…
2023 AFS Volunteer Awards
Congratulations to the 2023 AFS Volunteer Awardees! The Galatti Award Established in 1983, the Galatti Award, bestowed in memory of Stephen Galatti, the Director General of AFS for more than…
Nicholas Kristof’s Article and Becoming a Global Citizen
Nicholas Kristof’s recent article “The Backpack You Need Isn’t for Carrying Books”, highlights the ever-growing importance for young adults, especially, to have intercultural education and international experiences.
Why I Give to AFS-USA: An Interview with William (Bill) R. MacIntosh
Bill MacIntosh, an AFS-USA alumnus who participated in an exchange program to Brazil (Brasil in Portuguese) from 1964-1965, recently sat down with AFS-USA President and CEO Tara Hofmann to talk…
David and Nancy Frye Host Family Testimonial
In this testimonial, David and Nancy Frye share a bit about their experiences hosting 13 exchange students since 1999. The Frye family is currently hosting Nadhira from Indonesia. Read on to learn about how they started their most recent hosting journey, as well as the enrichment hosting has brought to their lives over the years!
What Teachers Do Matters. Happy Teacher Appreciation Week 2024!
We asked our AFS students to tell us about some teachers that have made a difference this year while they are studying in U.S. schools. Here’s what a few of…
School Outreach Celebrates 13 Young Educators
Thirteen young educators have earned full scholarships (sponsored by BP) to attend the annual AFS Youth Assembly in New York City from August 11-13, 2023. They will join 40…
2024 Youth Assembly Scholarship Winners
AFS-USA is proud to have thirteen young educators traveling to New York City on full scholarships (sponsored by BP) to attend the annual AFS Youth Assembly from August 15-18, 2024.…
AFS-USA Community Changemaker Award Winners
The theme of our 75th Anniversary is Your Story is Our Story: 75 Years of Creating Global Citizens. While it’s impossible to measure the impact AFS-USA continues to have…
Global Educator Newsletter: August 2023
Start the School Year with the *NEW*AFS Intercultural Club Toolkit Dig into this fantastic resource to help you effortlessly create or lead an intercultural club! You asked for it and…
Global Educator Newsletter: September 2024
From the AFS-USA President & CEO, Tara Boyce-Hofmann Those of us in the global education community continuously strive to prepare students for a rapidly evolving world, giving them concrete opportunities…
Global Educator Newsletter: January 2024
From the AFS-USA President & CEO, Tara Boyce-Hofmann As we kick off the new year, AFS-USA continues to dedicate time and resources toward promoting and delivering the many opportunities, experiences,…
2024 AFS-USA Global School Award Winner
AFS-USA, the largest partner in a worldwide network of non-profit, volunteer-based international education organizations, announces that Hingham High School in Massachusetts will receive the 2024 AFS-USA Global School Award having competed with schools throughout the country.
2023 AFS-USA Global Award Winners
AFS-USA has two distinct awards to celebrate both individual educators and schools or districts that have made global engagement and intercultural learning a part of their everyday instruction and school…
Global Educator Newsletter: April 2024
From the AFS-USA President & CEO, Tara Boyce-Hofmann As we welcome the arrival of spring, we also take this opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the remarkable achievements and dedication…
Global Educator Newsletter: August 2023
Start the School Year with the *NEW*AFS Intercultural Club Toolkit Dig into this fantastic resource to help you effortlessly create or lead an intercultural club! You asked for it and…
Global Educator Newsletter: October 2023
From the AFS-USA President & CEO, Tara Boyce-Hofmann International Education Week (IEW) provides a valuable opportunity for us to celebrate the power of citizen and cultural exchange as a pathway…
Global Educator Newsletter: April 2023
From the AFS-USA President & CEO, Tara Boyce-Hofmann Recently I had the honor to recognize two outstanding educators and their schools through the AFS-USA Global Awards. The Deputy Assistant Secretary…
Global Educator Newsletter: April 2022
Recently, I had the opportunity and honor to recognize extraordinary educators committed to expanding global competence in their schools. Their achievements are many and, like you, they’ve dedicated themselves to…
Global Educator Newsletter: September 2023
From the AFS-USA President & CEO, Tara Boyce-Hofmann This month’s edition of the AFS Global Educator shines a spotlight on the theme of “Scholarships & Awards” – a topic close…
2024 AFS-USA Global Educator Award Winner
AFS-USA, the largest partner in a worldwide network of non-profit, volunteer-based international education organizations, announces that Ms. Elizabeth Chapman, an English Language Arts teacher and the Study Abroad Coordinator at Bellaire High School in Houston, Texas has been named the 2024 AFS-USA Global Educator of the Year.
Global Educator Newsletter: February 2023
From the AFS-USA President & CEO, Tara Boyce-Hofmann Throughout history, the global AFS family has been through numerous tragedies and disasters. Because we share such a closeness with the many…
Alumni Newsletter: Winter 2023
A Message from Tara Hofmann As we begin a new year at AFS-USA (and the second half of our 75th anniversary), together, we have turned a corner in what has…
Murray Johnson
Murray Johnson Owner and Manager of a large manufacturing company in Wisconsin and a cattle and crop family farm in Ohio. AFS Volunteer, Host Family, Sending Parent – U.S. to…
Connie Askin
Connie Askin Chief Executive Officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters Central Mass and MetroWest Returnee – U.S. to Portugal 1985; Chief Financial Officer, AFS International 2002-2004; Host Mom Argentina 2012,…
Dr. Ken Wallace
Dr. Ken Wallace High School District Superintendent, Park Ridge, Illinois Ken Wallace is the longest serving Superintendent in the District’s 121 years of history at Maine Township High School District…
Karen Treber
Karen Treber General Counsel of Salisbury University, Maryland. AFS Host Family and Volunteer Karen Treber is the General Counsel of Salisbury University, Maryland. She previously served as General Counsel at…
Dr. Gregory Sabin
Dr. Gregory Sabin Preceptor at Harvard Extension School, Harvard University Greg Sabin is a Preceptor (Instructor) at the Harvard Extension School, Harvard University, where he has taught finance and accounting…
Tara Hayward
Tara Hayward Consultant, Public Health Research and Development Tara Hayward brings a diverse and robust background in business strategy, finance, and fundraising to the Board of Directors of AFS-USA having…
Kelly McFarland Stratman, CAE
Kelly McFarland Stratman, CAE Chief of Staff of the League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS) AFS Alumna: U.S. to Denmark, 1985 Kelly McFarland Stratman is an ASAE-certified…
Dr. Marcus Campbell
Dr. Marcus Campbell Superintendent, Evanston Township High School Dr. Marcus Campbell has served as superintendent of Evanston Township High School (ETHS) in Illinois, District 202 since July 2022. Campbell was…
Madelyn White
Madelyn White Counsel: Carter Ledyard & Milburn AFS Returnee – U.S. to Belgium; U.S. to France AFS Host Sibling Madelyn White is deeply connected to AFS as a two-time returnee.…
Martyn Redgrave
Martyn Redgrave Martyn R. Redgrave currently serves as Managing Partner and CEO of Agate Creek Partners, LLC, a professional governance and consulting services company co-founded by Mr. Redgrave in July…
AATF & AFS-USA Scholarship
Merit-Based Scholarship for the France Summer Language Camp program.
AFS-USA Cultural Ambassador Scholarship
Full, merit-based scholarship to study abroad for a year in Japan.