American High School Students from 2018 Yes Abroad Program are warmly welcome at Royal Thai Embassy prior to their departure for a year of exchange in Thailand

On June 22, five American high school students across the United States, recipients of 2018 Yes Abroad Program, visited the Royal Thai Embassy and greeted by Counselor Phisek Panupat and Kanoknate Kramer, Assistant on education affairs. The Embassy visit is part of their preparing program in Washington, D.C. before departing to attend an academic year at five local high schools in Thailand where they will live with local families and immerse themselves in the rich culture and traditions.

These students are recipients of the YES Abroad Scholarship, the Youth Exchange and Study program sponsored by the Educational and Cultural Affairs Bureau (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State and initiated in 2009 for American students to study in countries with significant Muslim populations. The Yes Abroad Program offers 65 scholarships and covered 12 countries, including Thailand in 2018.

The Embassy accommodates visits of the Yes Abroad recipients every year starting in 2009-2010 academic year when the first group of American high school students received the Yes Abroad scholarships to study in Thailand.

This year Yes Abroad Thailand students are Sydney Chesta attending Nangrong School, Kenna Howorth attending Kamphaengphet Pittayakom School, Sofia Reecer attending Satisrinan School, Chloe Fontenelle attending Islamwitthayalai of Thailand School and Luke Wilson attending Debsirin Nonthaburi School. Accompanying the students are Brandon Penrod, YES Abroad Thailand 2014-2015 alumnus, and Allen Evans, AFS-USA Outbound Sponsored Programs Manager.