Celebrating Our IEW Week Winners!
Each November, exchange students across the United States take part in International Education Week (IEW)—a celebration of cultural exchange, and the global learning that students bring to their host communities. Our students share their cultures in classrooms, community centers, libraries, youth clubs, and everywhere in between. This year, we invited students to submit their IEW work for our annual contest, and we were blown away by the creativity, passion, and pride reflected in every entry.
We’re thrilled to introduce our 2025 IEW Contest Winners!
🥇 Best PowerPoint Presentation: Yeru from Mongolia, hosted in Virginia
Yeru captivated his classmates with a vibrant presentation on Mongolian culture—but the highlight of the day was candy! He shared one of Mongolia’s most traditional candies: fermented mare’s milk candy. The reactions? Priceless.
“The most memorable moment happened when I let my classmates taste Mongolian traditional fermented mare’s milk candy… Some of them liked it and asked me for more, and some of them just threw it away because they didn’t like the taste. Even though they threw it away, they still showed me respect and positive vibes.”
“One of the most important things about being an exchange student is to share culture. And International Education Week gives us the chance to share it with different types of audiences.”- Yeru
🥇 Best Essay: Ayesha from India, placed in Minnesota
Ayesha stood out not just for her thoughtful and beautifully written essay, but because she submitted outstanding entries in every category. Her video, photography, and overall storytelling were exceptional—but her essay captured the heart of IEW. “Living and learning in another country encourages resilience, adaptability, and open-mindedness… IEW amplifies these lessons by providing a platform for the student to share their culture proudly and intentionally… They not only learn about other cultures but also learn much more about their own.” Ayesha’s words remind us why IEW is such a meaningful tradition for exchange students everywhere.
“This week is one of the reasons that makes THIS NOT A YEAR IN A LIFE BUT A LIFE IN A YEAR!”
-Ayesha
🥇 Most Creative Non-PowerPoint: Serghei from Moldova
Serghei impressed the judges with an innovative and interactive presentation designed entirely in Figma. His approach is a mult-media platform designed with dynamic elements crafted specifically to engage high school students at Castle High School in Hawai‘i.
His digital presentation included:
🎧 A Spotify playlist of Moldovan music
📸 Images and videos
📱 QR codes for interactive exploration
🍽 Sections on Moldovan food, symbols, culture, and more
Serghei’s project brought Moldova to life through technology in a way that felt fresh, immersive, and student-centered.
View his presentation here:
https://www.figma.com/design/3kQc9VVD3UNIftyZlFoUjI/Presentation-about-Moldova?node-id=0-1&t=IdXYoPbPacnN6BA9-1
🥇 Best Photos: Youssef from Egypt (YES)
At West Salem High School in rural Wisconsin, Youssef saw an opportunity—not just to share his own culture, but to lift up the stories of all exchange students at his school. His idea:
➡️ Highlight a different exchange student each day of IEW.
These winning photos were taken on the day Youssef showcased Egyptian culture—images full of color, pride, and the joy of sharing heritage with peers who may be learning about Egypt for the very first time. His initiative brought international voices to the forefront of school life and celebrated his exchange community.
🎉 A Big Thanks For Their Impact
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Ayesha (India), Youssef (Egypt), Yeru (Mongolia), and Serghei (Moldova) for their creativity, leadership, and dedication to cultural exchange. Their projects reflect the very best of the YES and FLEX programs and the transformative power of international education.
Thank you to all of our students who participated in this year’s IEW celebrations—you make global learning come alive in communities across the United States. We’re proud of each and every one of you!