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ASSIST Blog
The Power of Story: A Moldovan ASSIST Alum’s Film Explores Identity and Connection
Alexandru Curilov, ASSIST Class of 2003, is a Moldovan-born, Slovenia-based filmmaker and creative director with over 20 years of experience crafting emotionally honest stories across animation, live-action, and documentary. His recent animated short, Care Packages, set in a rural Moldovan village, poignantly explores the resilience and imagination of children left behind by migrating parents, blending humor…
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Celebrating Our Largest Class Yet From a Record 30 Countries
This year, ASSIST is proud to welcome its largest and most global class in our 56-year history. The Class of 2026 is comprised of 190 scholars from 30 different countries, representing an incredible range of cultures and perspectives. Expanding Our Reach We are particularly excited to welcome students from countries that are either new to…
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Announcing ASSIST Scholars’ Exciting New Look
We are excited to unveil ASSIST’s new look with you! While our visual identity has been updated, our mission remains the same: to create life-changing opportunities for outstanding international Scholars to learn from and contribute to the finest American independent secondary schools. Carrying Forward the History of ASSIST This new design reflects both our proud…
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A Warm Welcome to the ASSIST Scholars Class of ’26
This August, we had the honor of welcoming the ASSIST Scholars Class of ’26 with an unforgettable orientation in the Swiss Alps. Staff members, board members, and students traveled to Leysin, Switzerland, where we were generously hosted by Leysin American School and The Swiss Hotel Management School. The students left feeling energized and prepared for…
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Expanding Horizons: Welcoming Students from Colombia and South Africa to the ASSIST Community
We’re thrilled to share some exciting news about the growth of the ASSIST Scholars program! This year, we’ve expanded our reach to welcome outstanding students from two vibrant new markets: Colombia and South Africa. This marks a significant step in our ongoing commitment to bringing talented young individuals from all over the globe to our…
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From Small-Town Bulgaria to Global Opportunity with ASSIST
For Iliyan “Ilko” Hristov, growing up in Gabrovo, Bulgaria, the world beyond his small town felt distant—almost unreachable. For students like him, who weren’t born in capital cities, opportunity often seemed like something that happened to other people—something glimpsed on TV, an elusive version of the American Dream. But then came ASSIST, and everything changed.…
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Joanna Martyni: A Pioneer for ASSIST in Poland
Joanna Martyni has been the local Program Coordinator for ASSIST Poland for fourteen years, making her one of the longest-serving country coordinators. Her journey with ASSIST began in an unexpected yet very personal way, sparked by her daughter Julia’s ambition to study abroad and ultimately, an ASSIST scholarship. In middle school, Julia’s determination led her…
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Alumni Spotlight: Kristýna Říhová
ASSIST Scholars Class of ‘24 at Linden Hall School Czech STEM Leader and Rise Global Winner Kristýna Říhová has always been determined to make a difference, driven by her passion for marine biology and environmental protection. Coming from the Czech Republic, where there are no oceans, she didn’t let that limit her dream of saving…
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New Staff Spotlight: Denisa Maková
New, In-Country Program Coordinator for ASSIST Scholars and HMC Projects in the Czech Republic ASSIST Scholars and HMC Projects are thrilled to welcome Denisa Maková as our new shared Program Coordinator for the Czech Republic! Denisa comes to us through our Czech partner organization, The Bakala Foundation, which was established in 2007 to support young…
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ASSIST Orientation 2024 Held in Europe
ASSIST Class of 2025 Orientation: A Historic Event in Switzerland This year, ASSIST made history! For the first time ever, the ASSIST Scholars Orientation was held in Europe, bringing together over 170 new scholars, along with alumni and volunteers, to kick off the Class of 2025’s journey at the beautiful Leysin American School near Geneva,…
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Introducing the New ASSIST Scholars Website: A Fresh Look with Multilingual Features!
We are excited to unveil the brand-new ASSIST Scholars website – a complete new look and online experience, designed with you in mind! While our dedication to the community hasn’t changed, our website has had a major upgrade. It’s now more intuitive, more engaging and more accessible for all visitors. Whether you’re a student, a…
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New Staff Spotlight: Bill Mena
An Experienced Leader in International Education Joining ASSIST in July 2024 as Director of School Relations, Bill Mena brings with him a wealth of knowledge from his decades-long career in education and nonprofit leadership. Having worked in leadership roles across admissions, financial aid, non-tuition revenue, and international student recruitment at boarding schools, Bill’s extensive experience…
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