Global Classroom Awards
2010 Global Classroom Award Recipients
| The Council on Standards for International Educational Travel is proud to present the recipients of the 2010 Global Classroom Awards. This awards program recognizes far-sighted educators and generous high schools that are fundamental components of international exchange. Without the enthusiastic collaboration of schools, exchange could never have the life-changing impact it so often does. These two award winning schools actively support international youth exchange and were selected based on their commitment to promoting global understanding and international education. These schools showed evidence of their creativity, enthusiasm and dedication in welcoming exchange students while encouraging their local students to study abroad. Both schools have created a unique climate of support for exchange students through their desire to promote school-wide feelings of inclusiveness and global curiosity. The winning schools will each receive a $500 scholarship for one of its students to study abroad or equivalent funds to be put towards increasing school-wide international awareness. The awards will be formally presented at the 3rd Annual National School Conference on International Youth Exchange - February 19-20, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Below you will find an excerpt from each of their winning essays.Lodi High School - Lodi, WI “Lodi High School may be a small, rural school with a fairly homogeneous student body, but we are helping students see the world. Through our inviting atmosphere for foreign exchange students, our two sister school exchange projects, and through our intense International Education Week we are igniting a spark for many of our kids to become active citizens of our global community… Three years ago, we decided to create our own series of events, we now call International Education Week (IEW), in order to broaden the perspective of all students at Lodi High School. This week begins with a keynote speaker to the whole school who is a globally active citizen; for example, this year’s keynote comes from Mr. Chip Duncan, head of Relief International, photographer and author of Enough to Go Around. We follow the keynote with an international film festival, a festival of speakers and a cultural performance, over a five-day period. Moreover, teachers work to integrate global concepts into their curricula beginning a few weeks in advance of IEW… Students have been asking for trips to be taken through other programs- to Costa Rica, to London, and Paris, to Greece and Italy. Our board of education and community have been very supportive, and we see the trend growing!” Saint Edwards School - Vero Beach, FL “Saint Edward’s School has expanded their international exchange program to enrich the student body with a talented and diverse pool of students. Their commitment to the international program allows the local community to build meaningful relationships and deepen its understanding of others through linguistic, cultural and ethnic diversity… The [exchange] students are welcomed into our community from the day they step off the plane. All new international students participate in a week long orientation process that is both fun and informative as they start their voyage on the “Pirate Ship”. The program exposes students to available SES programs (athletics, arts, clubs, etc), orientation to the community of Vero Beach, expectations of living with a host family, detailed hints such as US banking and social habits, utilization of issued tablet computers for all school work, and specific information about student life at Saint Edward’s. Last year, a Youth Exchange student from China was awarded as the co valedictorian of the Upper School, while other YE students participated in theater, on the football team, as a Homecoming prince, modeled in a charity fashion show, participated in the surf club, and served in student-run international service clubs including Interact, Mu Alpha Theta, MUN, and many more. They quickly become, not a stranger, but an integral part of the warp and weave of our school… Two honors level SES students, in 10th and 11th grades, are currently outbound for a year, chosen as Rotary Youth Exchange Ambassadors to Japan and Italy. The school has been extremely supportive of their involvement, providing methods for the make-up of missed work and allowing flexible scheduling in order to graduate on time with their peers. The school administration schedules an assembly each fall to promote long and short term exchange opportunities to the students.” 2010 Honorable MentionsThe following schools were recognized by the 2010 CSIET Awards Committee for their strong commitment to International Education.
Past Global Classroom Award Winners |