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Seven high school students from Lithuania began their studies at the various US independent schools thanks to the ASSIST program. Kazickas Family Foundation works with ASSIST and invests in the Lithuania's future by supporting three students every year.
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.
Upon returning to their homelands to finish high schools, students share their experiences about people, schools, culture, social aspects, education, earned in the US with their friends and communities at home. The long-term goal of ASSIST program is for such students to apply their experiences at their homelands, to contribute to future ASSIST students' opportunities and to Lithuania's future.
One year spent at the American Independent school - it's a tireless work of many many ASSIST people and volunteers' to find matching schools, sponsors, host families that support and care for students entire school year at their own time and expense. Independent schools in the US offer full or partial scholarships that often exceed $50,000 a year, the Kazickas Family Foundation's contribution of $21,000 each year covers three students' travel, insurance, and other personal expenses. Three more students were funded this year thanks to generosity and hard work of ASSIST Lithuania alumns and their families. US Embassy in Vilnius offers two additional scholarships to students who's families have hard time paying the program fee.
Three out of seven scholars, supported by Kazickas Family Foundation, Guste, Emilijus and Gabija expressed their gratitude for such lifetime opportunity upon arrival at ASSIST orientation in Boston last August. "It is necessary to make the most of this experience, so that you could be proud of your decision to help me," shared Emilijus. "Thank you for your generosity and making my studies in the US possible," thanked Gabija, while Guste couldn't wait to meet her new challenge "I'm extremely excited to begin my school year".
Guste, Gabija, Emilijus and 167 other ASSIST scholars from 19 different countries began their studies at 90 American Independent schools at various US corners.
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Top Photo: ASSIST Lithuania Scholars 2016/2017
Photos: Courtesy of ASSIST and Ashley Gosnell