U.S. Ambassador Thomas Shannon, businessman Wolff Klabin, Rio de Leadership Institute Representative, Adam Singerman, Education USA Representative, Andreza Martins, and the 2010 Youth Ambassadors who received scholarships for summer  courses. (Photo: US Consulate - São Paulo) Check out the best photos of 2010 Youth Ambassadors Program. Click here!

Brasília, 2010 – The U.S. Embassy launched the ninth edition of the Youth Ambassadors Program on April 26 in São Paulo. The launch marked the beginning of the enrollment phase of the program that will ultimately take 35 Brazilian public school students to the United States for three weeks in 2011 with all expenses paid.

During the 2011 Youth Ambassador launch, the U.S. Ambassador to Brazil Thomas Shannon announced the names of ten previous youth ambassadors who received scholarships for summer courses at Cushing Academy, Phillips Exeter Academy, Phillips Academy Andover and University of California – Riverside and Irvine. The winners of 2010 scholarships are:

Cushing Academy

• Camila Sanches - Recife, Pernambuco

Exeter Phillips Academy 

• Bruna Lobato - Parnamirim, Rio Grande do Norte

Phillips Andover Academy

• Felipe Storch de Oliveira - Rio Branco, Acre
• Ricardo Borges - Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul

University of California – Irvine

• Ellen Deuter Barbosa - Santa Isabel, São Paulo
• Everaldo Alves - Belém, Pará
• Jonatha Reis - Salvador, Bahia
• Samuel Oliveira - Campina Grande, Paraíba

University of California – Riverside

• Isabella Coutinho - Vitória, Espírito Santo
• Wirlesson Falcão - Manaus, Amazonas

The 35 Youth Ambassadors from last year’s edition along with representatives from the program’s partner institutions (Fedex, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Dow, Microsoft, Carlson Wagonlit, Bradesco and United Airlines) were present at the ceremony. Conceived in Brazil in 2002, the Youth Ambassadors program has been recreated in 16 other countries. Since its inception, 212 young Brazilians have benefitted from the Youth Ambassadors program.

How to take part in 2011 Youth Ambassadors Program:

There are vacancies for 35 public school students from 15 to 18 years old who:

• study in public schools
  
• have a strong academic record
  
• have been engaged in socially responsible and volunteer activities for at least one year
  
• demonstrate strong oral English skills
  
• demonstrate initiative and self-confidence
  
• show flexibility and ease in adapting themselves to different cultures
  
•  foster healthy relationships at home, at school, and in their communities  

Information about enrollment in the program is available at:
http://www.embaixadaamericana.org.br/ya-index.php