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Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program (YES) scholarships, funded by the US Department of State, give secondary school students in many Arab and Islamic countries an opportunity to study at American high schools and live with American host families for one academic year.  Students will be enrolled in a full academic year, involving ten months of high school study in the US, 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. 

To be eligible to participate in YES, students:

• Must be entering high school grades 10 or 11 in Fall 2013
• Must be born between July 1, 1996 and August 1, 1998
• An overall B average in English
• Must achieve a score of at least 50 on the Secondary Level English Proficiency Test®  (equivalent to 480 or above on the TOEFL® exam)
• Should demonstrate a high level of academic achievement
• Should demonstrate flexibility and a commitment to promoting cross-cultural understanding
• Must not be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, or have been born in the United States

Students will be placed in carefully chosen American host families by experienced youth exchange organizations that will also monitor and advise the students throughout their stay in the US.  Major expenses such as airfare, room and board, pocket money and most other costs will be paid for by the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program (YES).