Vice versa

Summer Institute 2010

Two exchange students at the Summer Institute

Write to President Obama... 
and Win a 3 to 4 Week Stay in the US

-- Deadline is March 5, 2010 --

Belgian students ages 16-18 are invited to enter the competition by writing an essay starting with Dear Mr. President: Here’s How I would Improve U.S.-European Relations...  

The winner of the competition (which consists of the essay and a follow-up interview) will travel to the United States to take part in a summer institute for young Americans and Europeans in the Summer of 2010. The institute will be three-to four-week program at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina from July 1 to 31, 2010.  

Winners of the 2008 contest, Line Kuppens and Adrien Rorive, explain in a video clip how the Benjamin Franklin Summer Institute had an impact on their lives: video 0:51 | video 6:57

 

The winner of the contest will participate in an intensive, three-to four-week exchange program in the United States that focuses on the global issues that European and American youth face on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.  Students will participate in a variety of activities such as training sessions, workshops, community-based programs, study tours and cultural events.  Additional information on the program will be announced via this web site.
Eligibility
  • The contest is open to all Belgian citizens between 16 and 18 years of age as of July 1, 2010:
  • Very fluent in English.
  • Relatives of employees of the U.S. Embassy in Brussels are not eligible to participate.

 

Essay Requirements
  • Original work of the students 
  • Demonstrates an understanding of an aspect of US-European relations
  • Written in English
  • Between 500 and 750 words 

 

Selection Criteria 
Essays will be judged based on:
  • Originality
  • Clear communication
  • Good organization of ideas 
  • Convincing arguments supported with specific examples 
The interview will take place at the U.S. Embassy in Brussels and will discuss academic and community involvement, interest in the USA and participation in this summer program.

 

Deadline for Entries, Notification of Finalists
Submission deadline for essays: March 5, 2010 
Please email your essay to ircbrussels@state.gov
Finalists will be notified by March 12th
The follow-up interview will be scheduled for the week of March 15th.

 

Information to be provided with the essay
Last name:
First name:
Full address (include number, street, city, and postal code):
Home telephone number (cell phone number if any):
E-mail address(es):
Date of birth (month/day/year):
City of birth:
Country of birth:
Name School/College:
Field of study (if applicable):

 

Questions and Inquiries
All questions and inquiries should be directed to ircbrussels@state.gov

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