Blog Post
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.…
Read MoreJoanna 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…
Read MoreAlumni 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…
Read MoreNew 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…
Read MoreASSIST 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,…
Read MoreIntroducing 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…
Read MoreNew 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…
Read More50 Stories for 50 Years: An Vo ‘07
Nov 30, 2023 To celebrate our 50th anniversary year during 2018/19, we collected stories and profiles of people and institutions that have helped us build our organization, which first began as one person’s dream in 1968. We will feature one story per week on our blog. Please enjoy these “50 for 50” profiles featuring ASSIST’s…
Read More50 Stories for 50 Years: Timothy McIntire, Former ASSIST Board of Directors
Nov 30 2023 To celebrate our 50th anniversary year during 2018/19, we collected stories and profiles of people and institutions that have helped us build our organization, which first began as one person’s dream in 1968. We will feature one story per week on our blog. Please enjoy these “50 for 50” profiles featuring ASSIST’s…
Read More50 Stories for 50 Years: Kris Boucher, Former ASSIST Representative, current Orientation Volunteer
November 16, 2023 To celebrate our 50th anniversary year during 2018/19, we collected stories and profiles of people and institutions that have helped us build our organization, which first began as one person’s dream in 1968. We will feature one story per week on our blog. Please enjoy these “50 for 50” profiles featuring ASSIST’s…
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