Congratulations Katherine Weingartner - Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange

April 29, 2013
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Congratulations to German Minor Katherine Weingartner, who has been selected to participate in the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX), a year-long, federally-funded fellowship for study and work in Germany. Katherine was selected as one of 75 participants (among more than 600 applicants) for this unique fellowship program. Since 1984, over 1,650 Americans have been awarded this opportunity to gain cultural, theoretical, and practical work experience in Germany, and Ms. Weingartner will be participating in the 30th year of the CBYX program (2013-2014). Katherine recently graduated from the University of Arizona with a BA in Public Management and Policy with an Environmental Policy Emphasis and a minor in German Studies.

While at the U of A, much of Katherine's work involved the development of solar energy technologies and international policy. Because of this, she became motivated to focus her career in the field of international energy policy. "Germany is a global leader in international energy policy and the solar industry. In respect to international governing bodies, Germany has also shown itself as a leader in the EU and the international community across multiple fields. There could be no better place, I would argue, to study and work in the international energy policy field than in Germany. Having the opportunity to work, study, and improve my German language skills in Germany will surely benefit me in a future career in international energy policy and I cannot wait to begin the experience abroad.", Katherine explains her decision to study and work abroad for one year.

While in Germany on CBYX, Katherine will attend a two-month intensive German language course, study at a German university or professional school for four months, and complete a five-month internship with a German company in her career field. Participants are placed throughout Germany, and have the opportunity to learn about everyday German life from a variety of perspectives.

Conceived and supported by members of the United States Congress and the German Parliament [Bundestag], the CBYX program is financially supported by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the US Department of State under the authority of the Fulbright-Hays Act. Participants come from nearly every career field, and from all over the United States.

The program is designed primarily for young adults in business, STEM (scientific, technical, engineering, and mathematical), agricultural, and vocational fields, though candidates in all fields are encouraged to apply. Participants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents between the ages of 18-24 and have clear career goals and experience in their professional fields. German language ability is not required, but is strongly recommended. Interested applicants can visit www.cbyx.info for more information.

CBYX is a reciprocal scholarship program. While American participants like Katherine will experience life in Germany, young German professionals will live here in the United States during the upcoming academic year. German participants study at US colleges in the fall and work in local businesses in the spring, all while living with an American host. CBYX for Young Professionals is currently looking for interested host families, host companies, and host colleges who would like to take part in this exciting cultural exchange. Anyone interested in becoming involved in the program or hosting a German participant can find out more by visiting www.cbyx.info/host.

Additional Information: Now entering its 30th year, the CBYX program is made possible due to the ongoing support of the United States Congress and the German Bundestag. Participants are between the ages of 18 and 24 at the start of the program, and must be US citizens or permanent residents. Applicants do not need to be enrolled to participate, but should have well-defined career goals with related work/internship experience, flexibility, good communication skills, diplomacy, and a strong sense of American identity. Previous knowledge of German is not required but is strongly recommended. The program is designed primarily for young adults in business, STEM (scientific, technical, engineering, and mathematical), agricultural, and vocational fields, though candidates in all fields are encouraged to apply.