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Profiles of Alumni

ASSIST Opens Doors

Our Scholars make an incredible impact, during their year at school and far beyond.

Olivia Jacobsson

Olivia Jacobsson

ASSIST Country: Sweden

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School

Linköping University, M.Sc. Industrial Engineering and Management

Dublin City University, Computer Science

Linnaeus University, German Language and Literature

Today, Olivia is helping shape one of Europe’s fastest-rising AI companies. As an early team member at Lovable, she has supported the company’s extraordinary growth across operations, finance, partnerships, and investor relations. This year, she was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list for AI.
Meet Olivia →
ASSIST Alumni from 2016, Ubah Ali

Ubah Ali

ASSIST Country: Somaliland

Miss Hall's

Ali completed her masters degree at Stirling University and studied international conflict and cooperation. BA American University of Beirut and student political science with the focus on international law. Currently, she works for Lloyds Banking Group in the United Kingdom.

Miss Hall’s School gave me another perspective on women’s capacity. My ASSIST year was a defining moment in my life; I was so empowered. It made me say, ‘I want to live in a place where women feel as though they belong.’ I love how the people in my community have changed their mentality that women should be seen.
Meet Ubah →
Petra Bakosova white woman with blond hair wearing a black top and a tan sweater

Petra Bakosova

ASSIST Country: Slovakia

Lake Forest Academy, Lake Forest, IL

The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Master of Business Administration (MBA) ‘19

University of Chicago, Master of Science (MS) Financial Mathematics ‘11

Petra is ​​passionate about financial econometrics, statistical modeling and machine learning. Petra is a triathlete in her free time and is a volunteer with the local triathlon club.
Meet Petra →
black and white headshot of mid aged white woman, black suit

Pia Bungarten

ASSIST Country: Germany

Suffield Academy

B.A., Amherst College

MPA, Harvard University

My year at Suffield as an ASSIST Scholar directly led to my college years at Amherst College and eventually to my graduate studies at Harvard. My entire professional life has been founded on my ASSIST year at Suffield.
Meet Pia →
Adam Cerny a white man with a mustache and beard wearing a shirt and sport coat

Adam Černý

ASSIST Country: Czech Republic

Westminster School, Simsbury, CT

Yale University, Currently Pursuing an undergraduate degree in Economics & Philosophy

Adam is a dedicated student leader experienced in project planning, classroom management, and mentoring international students.
Meet Adam →
Paula Franke blond woman

Paula Franke

ASSIST Country: Germany

Albuquerque Academy, Albuquerque, NM

Technische Universität Berlin, Bachelor of Science, Mathematics ‘23

Current Student at TU Dortmund University, Pursuing Master of Science, Mathematics

“I am working in a CyberSecurity position for both IT and OT, to gain further experience in the professional field and to prepare myself for what lies ahead after my degree.”
Meet Paula →
Gustė Gurčinait, ASSIST Alumni, from 2017

Gustė Gurčinaitė

ASSIST Country: Lithuania

The Lawrenceville School

2022 Rhodes Scholar

B.S., NYU Abu Dhabi

M.S., University of Oxford

Young Energy Ambassador for the European Union

“I think one of my duties is to channel voices that are not being heard,”
Meet Gustė →
Iliyan Hristov

Iliyan “Ilko” Hristov

ASSIST Country: Bulgaria

Stuart Hall School

Awarded 2018 Harvard Prize Book Award by Harvard Bulgaria

B.B.A., American University, Bulgaria

ASSIST gave me the chance to see the world in a way I never could from my hometown. It’s what makes this program special—it finds students with potential and gives them the chance to see themselves in a new way. To dream bigger. To make things happen.
Meet Iliyan "Ilko" →
ASSIST Alumni from Bulgaria, Georgi Klissurski

Georgi Klissurski

ASSIST Country: Bulgaria

Woodberry Forest School, VA

B.A from Dartmouth College, MBA from Wharton, MPA from Harvard Kennedy School

ASSIST is a life-changing opportunity, truly. My ASSIST year allowed me to explore the world, yet find what I most appreciate at home. It is a powerful experience for a young person that I wish for as many students as possible.
Meet Georgi →
Jose Mareno Marin is wearing glasses and a sportcoat

Javier Moreno Marin

ASSIST Country: Spain

Saint Andrew’s Preparatory School, in Boca Raton (FL)

Cornell University

Georgia Tech

Thanks to Assist I had the opportunity to study 11th grade at Saint Andrew’s Preparatory School, in Boca Raton (FL). After a wonderful academic year in the U.S., I returned to Madrid (Spain) to finish High School and soon after started my degree in industrial engineering.
Meet Javier →
ASSIST Alumni Ola Nowak from Poland who graduated from ASSIST in 2014

Ola Nowak

ASSIST Country: Poland

Lancaster Country Day School, PA

BSc Pharmacology with a Year with Industry, University College London

My experience with ASSIST taught me to say yes to opportunities that arise, as they may end up being life-changing and eye-opening, just like ASSIST year was to me.
Meet Ola →
Philipp Raupp

Philipp Raupp

ASSIST Country: Germany

St. Andrew’s Sewanee School in Sewanee, TN

University of Pennsylvania

University of St. Gallen

Philipp was an exchange student at University of Pennsylvania in 2021 and graduated from the University of St. Gallen class of 2022 | B.A. in Economics.
Meet Phillip →
Kotryna Smith is a blond woman wearing a black dress

Kotryna Smith

ASSIST Country: Lithuania

Miss Porter’s School in Connecticut

Macalester College

Northwestern University – Kellogg School of Management

Kotryna (Patapaite) Smith credits ASSIST for her professional career.
Meet Kotryna →
photo of woman in blue shirt with columnsnear her (Katarzyna (Kasia) Zarzycka )

Katarzyna (Kasia) Zarzycka

ASSIST Country: Poland

Hathaway Brown in Shaker Heights, OH

BA: Harvard College, Joint Degree in Theater, Dance and Media and Comparative Literature (cum laude in field)

Studying MA Performance Practices at ArtEZ, Netherlands

"My year in an American school with ASSIST made me see that every form of education is equally valuable - whether you are a humanities scholar, a scientist, an artist or an athlete you deserve the space to grow. Thanks to the program I realized I can, and have the abilities to pursue what I love: the arts. Last year I graduated cum laude from Harvard and I know I would have not done it without the ASSIST experience."
Meet Katarzyna (Kasia) Zarzycka →
Helis Zulijani-Boye is a blond woman in a black dress

Helis Zulijani-Boye

ASSIST Country: Croatia

Cranbrook Kingswood in Bloomfield Hills, MI

Harvard University

Helis graduated from Harvard University in 2005 and is currently serving as Member at Large of the Harvard College Fund Executive Committee.
Meet Helis →