Contact: Eva Crawford, ecrawford@afs.org, 212.479.1187

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Victoria Braun Wins Prestigious Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Scholarship

New York, NY - Victoria Braun, a high school student from Ocean City, NJ has been awarded the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) scholarship, which covers a year of study and cultural immersion in Germany. The CBYX program is operated under funding by the U.S. Department of State and administered in the Northeast United States by AFS-USA, a worldwide nonprofit student exchange organization. Victoria is one of only 50 students in the Northeast to receive this prestigious scholarship, and will be spending the 2012-2013 academic year living with a German host family and attending a local high school.

Victoria was selected as a Congress-Bundestag scholar due to her demonstrated academic qualifications, cultural open-mindedness and motivation. Victoria will serve as a “youth ambassador” from the United States for the academic year, while participating in educational, cultural and political events, including receptions and meetings with both German and American government officials.

Introduced under a presidential initiative in 1983, the CBYX program aims to strengthen U.S.-German relations through citizen diplomacy and cultural understanding. In this time of global interdependence, the strong ties that bind the U.S. and Germany through trade and diplomatic relations are essential in U.S. foreign affairs. The CBYX program sees the importance of youth ambassadorship as a means to strengthen these ties. Dedicated supporter Senator Richard Lugar (IN) calls CBYX “an extraordinary opportunity to learn about the world, gain a deeper understanding of people and issues, build lifelong skills, and expand horizons.”

To learn more about the CBYX program and find out how to apply for the 2013-14 academic year, visit www.usagermanyscholarship.org. To learn more about AFS-USA, the administering organization, visit www.afsusa.org.

#   #   #