Media Inquiries: Robert Griffin / Memphis in May (901) 525-4611 rgriffin@memphisinmay.org
Memphis in May International Festival Student Exchange Applications Now Available
MEMPHIS-AREA STUDENTS’ CHANCE TO STUDY IN CZECH REPUBLIC
September 12, 2017. MEMPHIS, TN. Memphis-area junior and senior high school students will have the opportunity of the lifetime as Memphis in May International Festival opens the application period for its annual Student Exchange Program. In 2018, selected students will travel to the honored country of Czech Republic as ambassadors for Memphis in May. During the 10-12 day visit in March, students will travel to specially chosen areas of the country and discover the riches of this progressive member of the European Union, including worldclass museums, iconic architecture, historic castles, and friendly people.
The student ambassadors will travel with chaperones and stay with host families while they attend an area high school. Prior to departure, students will attend orientation sessions that will allow them to gain further insight about the Czech Republic’s society and their responsibilities as Memphis in May ambassadors.
“From the beginning, part of our mission has been to build international relationships,” stated James L. Holt, president and CEO of Memphis in May International Festival, “and the relationships our local students will develop with their host families and schools during their stay in the Czech Republic while immersing themselves in the culture can be life-changing.”
Successful applicants will be chosen based on their academic performance, community service and communication skills. An essay and letters of recommendation are also required for trip consideration. The Memphis in May Student Exchange Program is open to any student enrolled in the 11th or 12th grade in a public or private school or an authorized home school within Shelby County during the August 2017-June 2018 school year. Students should be in good academic standing, demonstrate leadership involvement at school and in their community, possess outstanding communication skills and possess an interest in increasing their appreciation of other cultures. Selected students must commit to sharing their experience and new knowledge of the honored country with local groups after their return.
For more information on the Student Exchange Program, contact Carley Kirby, Program Manager, at ckirby@memphisinmay.org or visit www.memphisinmay.org. The deadline is Friday, December 1, 2017.
2018 Memphis in May International Festival Dates:
Beale Street Music Festival: May 4-6, 2018
International Week: May 7-13, 2018
World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest: May 16-19, 2018
Great American River Run: May 26, 2018
901Fest: May 26, 2018
About Memphis in May
Memphis in May International Festival is a not for profit, community-based organization, whose programs contribute more than $111 million annually in economic impact to the community, foster civic pride, promote awareness of Memphis heritage, and build international relationships and understanding through education.
Memphis in May International Festival is the official festival of the City of Memphis, the recipient of nearly 200 prestigious Pinnacle Awards from the International Festival and Events Association, and has been named to Travel+Leisure’s international list of Festivals Worth Traveling For, with the Beale Street Music Festival included as one of the World’s Top Festivals by Fest300, and listed by Forbes as one of “5 Underrated Music Festivals You Should Attend.”
For additional information about the Memphis in May International Festival, please visit the official Memphis in May web site at www.memphisinmay.org.
