Meet Our Students

Louna is a bright, curious, friendly, and energetic student from France. In her words, Louna says “I really want to get out of my comfort zone, change my routine, and go on an adventure.” She loves sports, playing handball since she was 7, enjoys volleyball for the teamwork aspect, and surfing for the feeling of freedom out on the water. Louna also enjoys music, walks, cooking, laughing, and board games. She likes helping others so much that she became a Lifeguard and is first aid certified! Excited for lots of things in America, Louna mentioned getting to experience soccer games and the holidays here. Since she is so close to her mother, father, and sisters, she cannot wait to get to know you as well, making memories she believes will last a lifetime!

Ecaterina, known as Katya, is a vibrant and outgoing 16-year-old from Moldova. She’s eager to spend the 2025–2026 school year in the United States, where she hopes to make lifelong connections and explore American culture. Katya is passionate about gymnastics, fitness, and travel. She shares her active lifestyle and global experiences through her Instagram and YouTube blogs. A creative spirit, she also enjoys photography, reading, and cooking, especially traditional Moldovan dishes she'd love to share with her host family. Curious and open-minded, Katya dreams of a future career related to travel, possibly as a flight attendant. She’s also learning Spanish and loves discovering new languages and cultures. Friendly, responsible, and full of enthusiasm, Katya is excited to connect with others, volunteer in her community, and fully embrace the exchange experience.

If you and your family love to cook, you should consider hosting this young lady from Romania! She wrote in her letter to her prospective host family that she and her family love to cook together, and that they have cooking competitions and then decide who cooked the best! She also wrote that she and her family like to meet new people, try traditional dishes in new places, and discover and learn about new places. She said she loves to play the piano, go horseback riding, and swim. She loves to interact with horses, and she wrote that playing the piano relaxes her and allows her to express herself. She is thinking about becoming an architect, because she loves drawing and she is fascinated by older buildings. Maria wrote that she wants this experience to expand her mindset, test her limits, and become more independent. She would also love to be able to try cheerleading! If this personable student sounds like a good fit for you and your family, apply to host her today!

As the fun and spontaneous youngest member of his family, Nathan brings joy and humor to all he encounters near his home in France. Passionate about hobbies such as Krav Maga, working out at the gym, travelling, music and video editing, Nathan enjoys a wide variety of activities. Nicknamed the "Globetrotter," he recently completed a challenging backpacking adventure with his family, showing how he enjoys getting out of his comfort zone to develop his adaptability and resilience. Up for anything, Nathan enjoys everything from amusement parks to reading a good book. His favorite subjects are Philosophy, which allows him to think deeply about ideas, and English which will come in very handy! He cannot wait to "live an unforgettable adventure" with your family!

Meet Gaspard, a 17-year-old French student who dreams of a career in logistics and trading. Growing up as the middle child, Gaspard has always had to navigate his place between his two brothers, but it’s helped him develop resilience and a strong sense of self. Gaspard’s personality is one of constant energy and positivity, with a natural ability to bring smiles to those around him. Whether it’s through his sense of humor, his love for soccer, or his enthusiasm for rap music, he’s always the first to spark laughter and lighten the mood. He says, "I like making people laugh if they are not energetic then I try to liven them up thanks to my sense of humor." Through his work-study program, Gaspard has matured, learning to balance hard work with moments of fun and laughter. He looks forward to the possibility of spending a year with a host family, where he can build meaningful relationships, improve his language skills, and share his passions for sports, music, and humor with others.

Meet Cheng Wei from Taiwan, but you can call her Vivi! Vivi is an enthusiastic, cheerful girl with an outgoing personality who makes friends with everyone she meets. Vivi enjoys spending time with her family, together they like to go mountain climbing and spend time outdoors. Vivi enjoys listening to all types of music, but has said she grew up on Michael Jackson, One Direction, and the Backstreet Boys. In her free time Vivi enjoys making handcrafted gifts for her loved ones as well as writing fan fiction. Vivi hopes to spend a lot of family time together with your family as well. If possible, in the US Vivi would like to take classes in psychology and economics and learn to play golf and soccer. Even though she may face many challenges during her exchange year, Vivi believes her positive energy will help get her through any tough times.

Oybek is a FLEX Scholarship student from Uzbekistan! He describes himself as an extrovert who enjoys football and debate. He established a Debate Club, where he practices public speaking and improvisation, and he co-founded the SpeakEasy Club to improve English and public speaking skills. He also serves as an IELTS Mock Speaking Examiner, helping others practice their speaking abilities. Oybek writes: “My friends would describe me as extroverted, energetic, goal-oriented, and a good conversationalist.” He said he wants to study economics or business management. He is allergic to orchard grass.

Viktoriia is 16-year-old FLEX scholar from a small town in Ukraine, and she is super excited about this exchange experience. She loves to go biking with her family, taking nature walks and watching funny movies. In her free time, she plays volleyball, goes swimming, and in winter, she never misses a chance to skate on the little pond near her house. Maybe she will bake a special treat for your family (especially chocolate muffins and brownies)! She really looks forward to meeting you, learning about your culture, and sharing hers too—maybe she can even teach you how to make borscht! In the future, she hopes to manage her own hotel, and she feels experiencing a year in American life is one step forward toward that dream.

Alexia is a 16-year-old from a small town in the Italian Alps, living with her family, including her parents, sister, and her beloved cat Mia. Fluent in both Italian and Polish, she also studies English, German, and Spanish, showing a deep passion for languages and cultures. An active and cheerful individual, Alexia has competed in cheerleading, tried gymnastics, and enjoys sports like swimming and horse riding, with skiing on her list of things to learn. She works as a waitress while attending a local tourist school, balancing her academic life with hands-on work experience. With a deep curiosity and love for travel, Alexia is excited about her upcoming exchange program in the United States, eager to grow, learn, and experience a new culture.

Flex Scholarship recipient Ulugbek describes himself as an ambitious, open minded, and sociable person. Ulugbek spends his time volunteering at the American Corner where he gives presentations on various topics like chess and professional development. In his free time Ulugbek enjoys reading a variety of books, his favorite author is James Clear. Because of his fondness of reading Ulugbek helps organize the books in the library at American Corner. Ulugbek is very helpful at home by helping in the garden, keeping his room clean, and taking out the trash daily. Ulugbek is eager to spend a year in the U.S. to learn more about the American culture and share with your family about his country and traditions. He looks forward to seeing you soon!