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During the second week of January in Vilnius, Lithuania, the second stage of selection process for 2016-2017 ASSIST scholars has been concluded with great excitement. Zenonas Bedalis from Kazickas Family Foundation organized the interview process that took place over two days.
Bob Stanley, the President of ASSIST, together with two ASSIST Directors, Woody Rutter and Joe Gould, and US embassy staffers met over 60 candidates and were impressed by their communication skills. The pool of extremely strong candidates this year has been narrowed down to 19 semifinalists. All candidates will be notified of the status of their application in early March. The final decision for acceptance lies with the school, and ASSIST works carefully to present candidates to schools where the fit is felt to be optimal.
Friday evening, Zenonas Bedalis and Rolandas Auksakis hosted many alumni, alumni parents and friends for a reception at the Kazickas family residence. His Excellency President Valdas Adamkus was an honorary guest to inspire the alums with his speech. Harold Solomon, Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Lithuania, also attended and shared his perspective.
"Our partnerships and friendships in Lithuania are a model for all of our countries," Mr. Stanley shares. "Zenonas Bedalis continues to do a superb job as leader. The alumni and alumni parents are stepping forward with fundraising support, and the U.S. Embassy and business community are embracing this opportunity for young Lithuanians."
Since the 1992-1993 school year ASSIST, a program by an independent association, has been operating in Lithuania providing scholarships for Lithuania's secondary school students for their 11th grade studies in the United States. In 2003, the Kazickas Family Foundation signed an agreement with ASSIST supporting its efforts to provide life-changing opportunities for outstanding international scholars to attend and contribute to the finest American independent secondary schools to promote mutual understanding, cultural interchange, and global citizenship. Since 2004, the KFF is in charge of the competition process in Lithuania. So far, 117 Lithuanian students have studied in the US under the auspices of ASSIST.
To become an ASSIST scholar, go to ASSIST Lithuania website.
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Photos: Courtesy of Zenonas Bedalis