DSHS junior receives State Department exchange scholarship

Addie Mae Villas, a junior at Dripping Springs High School, is one of 250 American high school students from across the United States to be awarded the prestigious Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) Scholarship for the 2019-20 academic year. CBYX is a bi-lateral exchange program co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and German Bundestag (Parliament).

As a CBYX scholar, Addie Mae will spend the school year in Germany living with a host family, attending a German high school, and participating in a four-week language and cultural immersion camp to gain a better understanding of German culture, language, and everyday life. Additionally, there will be the chance to visit the German Bundestag, meet with American and German government officials, participate in intercultural seminars, and explore the country through numerous excursions to nearby cities, historical sites, and more.

Addie Mae has been involved in many extracurricular activities and leaderships roles at DSHS, including qualifying for the state speech and debate tournament this year in Lincoln-Douglas Debate and serving on the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council.

The youth exchange program is coordinated by CIEE, the country's oldest and largest nonprofit study abroad and intercultural exchange organization.