ASSIST Scholars 2024-2025
Impact Report
President's Message
Your Generosity, Our Strongest Foundation
This year has been especially meaningful for ASSIST and we achieved historic growth. The Class of 2026 is the largest and most diverse in our 56-year history—187 Scholars from 30 countries. The stories and data within these pages are more than milestones—they are proof of the enduring belief that international exchange transforms lives and builds bridges across cultures.
ASSIST was founded on the belief that true diplomacy does not only occur in conference rooms, but in classrooms, dining halls, and the daily interactions that open minds and expand horizons. That mission has endured because of you.
At a time when division and discord weigh so heavily on our public life, I am reminded of how essential it is to bring young people from diverse backgrounds together—to learn, to listen, and to engage in respectful dialogue.
The success of the 2024-2025 year has only been possible because of the extraordinary commitment of our member schools, donors, and partners like you. That generosity represents a deep investment in bringing together students from different backgrounds to form a global network of future leaders grounded in partnership, dialogue, and shared values.
On behalf of ASSIST, thank you for advancing this mission and for your role in shaping a future where understanding and collaboration prevail.
Sincerely,
J. Martin Milne
President
Year in Review and Events
The World is Here:
Our Most Diverse Class Yet
Thanks to you, ASSIST proudly welcomed the largest class in our 56-year history. The Class of 2026 includes 190 Scholars from a record 30 countries, significantly expanding our global footprint.
This growth includes students from historically underrepresented countries like Colombia, Kenya, Japan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This expansion ensures your gift continues to bring the world’s most promising students to American schools. The momentum is building—stay tuned to see how, together, we’ll extend ASSIST’s impact to new regions and even more deserving young leaders.
Orientation in Switzerland Prepared Scholars for Global Leadership
Your Support Built Confidence
The ASSIST Class of 2026 Orientation in Leysin, Switzerland was inspiring and unforgettable. Scholars from around the world came together to form a close-knit community—bonding through team-building activities, cultural exchange, and workshops designed to prepare them for life at American independent schools. Guided by staff and volunteers, the Scholars gained through sessions on academics, culture, and leadership. Thanks to donor support, Orientation set the tone for a transformative ASSIST experience that will shape these young leaders for years to come.
30 Years in Slovakia, 15 Years in Poland
The Enduring Impact of Your Gift
This past year we celebrated two milestones thanks to you: 30 years in Slovakia and 15 years in Poland. One hundred Slovak Scholars have embraced democratic values and civic engagement since 1994. Since 2010, 60 Polish Scholars have grown into leaders and changemakers. This year, we also honored the outstanding leadership of ASSIST Program Coordinators Joanna in Poland and Katka in Slovakia, whose dedication has made these successes possible. We can’t wait to see what the next decades bring.
Financials
The Investment That Powers ASSIST
Sources of Funds
Fiscal Year End June 30, 2025
Total Revenue $5,546,526
- Student Fees — $4,601,676 (83.0%)
- Fundraising / Gifts / Grants — $862,500 (15.5%)
- School Fees — $81,350 (1.5%)
- Interest and Other — $1,000 (0.0002%)
Every Dollar Directed to Scholar Success
Use of Funds
Fiscal Year End June 30, 2025
Total expenses $7,408,835
- Program Expenses — $3,629,684 (66.1%)
- Shared Expenses — $1,713,330 (31.2%)
- G&A Expenses — $89,518 (1.6%)
- Fundraising Expenses — $59,461 (1.1%)
Stories of Transformation
Eo Stojadinović ’25 (Serbia)
From Scholar to Global Change Maker: Eo’s Turning Point.
A year as an ASSIST Scholar was a turning point for Eo Stojadinović ’25, of Serbia. Eo said, “My year at St. Christopher’s helped me reflect on who I was and who I wanted to be.” He was amazed at the kindness of ASSIST donor J. Wood “Woody” Rutter, who helped make his experience possible
Eo’s year in the U.S. taught him that true fulfillment comes from service and being present. This inspiration led him to found Krokokodil, a nonprofit that now operates internationally in 8 countries. He saw how that initial generosity set everything in motion, allowing his own kindness to “ripple outward to touch countless lives.”
Eo on the camps of his ASSIST school, St. Christopher’s School in Richmond, Virginia.
Pippa with her ASSIST host family “sister” on the campus of her ASSIST school, Taft School.
Pippa Bond ’86 (Australia)
The Class That Changed Everything
We asked Pippa Bond ’86 about her experience as a Scholar and her motivation to give back. Pippa is a capital markets partner in the Los Angeles office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP and serves on ASSIST’s Board of Directors.
ASSIST: What is one transformative experience that only happened because you were an ASSIST Scholar?
Pippa: Walking into my first class at Taft, I thought I was in the wrong place. There was one big table and only fifteen students. Our teacher led a college-style discussion on The Great Gatsby. I had never learned like that before—it was engaging, challenging, and alive. That class set the tone for my entire year and sparked a lifelong love of literature. The skills I learned in that room have carried me through my studies and career.
ASSIST: When you make your donation to ASSIST, what do you hope for the student who receives that funding?
Pippa: More than anything, I hope they feel empowered and inspired to explore their talents with confidence and curiosity. An ASSIST scholarship is a validation of promise. I hope our students embrace that validation and approach their year in the U.S. with confidence and curiosity.
Kristen Mariotti, Head of Enrollment Management, Emma Willard School
How Scholars Transform Our School
“Hosting ASSIST Scholars has been a true privilege, said Kristen Mariotti, Head of Enrollment Management at the Emma Willard School.” Mariotti, a distinguished 20-year enrollment professional, believes Scholars are “not only incredible additions to our classrooms, but community members who take full advantage” of our offerings. Their unique perspectives and curiosity changes institutions and “make us all better,” she says. “Hosting these remarkable students reminds us that the goal of education is to build bridges of understanding that will shape our world for generations.”
James on the campus of Harvard University where he recently successfully completed a summer program.
James Warren Honců ’25 (Czech Republic)
One Year. One School. Life-Changing Momentum.
ASSIST scholars don't just complete a school year—they launch a lifetime of opportunities. James Warren Honců ’25 (Czech Republic) attended Christ School through the ASSIST program and the Bakala Foundation. The opportunity was a launchpad that helped him secure an acceptance to the rigorous Harvard Summer School. Earning A’s and eight college credits in advanced science and business, James realized his true academic potential. “The summer had me do a 180,” he noted, now with a clear path toward research and intellectual challenges. Your support provides the foundational platform for these students to discover their best selves and create life-changing momentum.
Brand Refresh
ASSIST Identity through the years
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.
This new design reflects both our proud 56-year history and the vibrant, global community that defines ASSIST today. We look forward to carrying this new look into the future alongside all of you who make our mission possible.
Up until 2008
2008-2012
2012-2018
2019
2020-2023
2023-2025
ASSIST Board of Directors
Pamela Haering Freer,
Board Chair
Helis Zulijani-Boye,
Vice Chair
Pamela M. Thye,
Vice Chair and Secretary
Andrew C. Pilaro
Vice Chair
Robert Fleishman
Treasurer
Christopher Wejchert
Treasurer
Pippa Bond
Jefferson Burnett
Peter A. Frew
C. Joseph Gould
Ulrich A.C. Graebner
Patrice Harmon
Sean Harris
John A. Kazickas
Mirella Lang
Adriana Leon
Kate Meenan-Waugh
Neo Mokgwathi
Libby Peard
J. Wood Rutter
Kotryna Smith
Bessie Speers
Jill Thompson
Grace Tompkins
Markus Wiedenmann
Louisa H. Zendt
“When you support ASSIST, you’re helping us fuel the future changemakers and leaders the world urgently needs. Over the last ten years, I have seen firsthand how an ASSIST year transforms the students it serves. It provides its scholars with wraparound support to ensure they receive an exceptional education, lifelong mentorship, and a global community of alumni who inspire and support one another. We’re not just funding scholarships. We’re helping to shape the next generation of compassionate, collaborative global leaders.”
-Pam Haering Freer, ASSIST Board Chair