Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Scholarships

YES Scholarships, funded by the U.S. Department of State, give secondary students in Lebanon an opportunity to study at American high schools and live with American host families for one academic year. The program seeks to improve cooperation and mutual understanding between Americans and countries of strategic importance. Students will be enrolled in a full academic year of high school study in the U.S., attending classes, labs and extracurricular programs with their American classmates. YES students will also participate in special enrichment activities, including community service, youth leadership training, a civics education program and other activities that will develop a well-rounded understanding of American culture through interaction with diverse groups of Americans. Likewise, participating students will act as cultural ambassadors to their American host communities, becoming invaluable resources for Americans, whose contact with YES students will provide them with an opportunity to learn about the rich and vibrant cultures.

To be eligible to participate in the YES program, students must:

• Be Lebanese citizen or long-term Palestinian resident in Lebanon
• Be currently enrolled in the Brevet or 1^st secondary class of the Lebanese baccalaureate program or in the 9^th or 10^th grade of the high school program
• Have a birth date between August 1, 2004 and August 1, 2006
• Demonstrate maturity, good character, scholastic aptitude, flexibility and adaptability
• Have a minimum of “B” average or 12/20 for the past three years without failing grades
• Have strong English language ability: Minimum "B" average or 12/20 in English for the past three years
• Agree to attend classes in the U.S. as full-time students and maintain at least a "C" average in a U.S. high school
• Demonstrate willingness to participate in the American host family’s daily life
• Not have previously attended high school for a semester or academic year in the United States
• Not be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident (green card holder).

Application must be received no later than Monday, November 16, 2020.