2025 BridgeUSA Champion Awards - Montana and Wyoming
Celebrating BridgeUSA in Yellowstone National Park
CIEE senior leaders are in Montana and Wyoming this week for the second leg of our yearlong celebration of the U.S. Department of State's BridgeUSA international exchange programs that make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous.
To be successful, BridgeUSA programs need champions at all levels – strong community leaders, strong business leaders, strong BridgeUSA sponsors, and dedicated, hardworking participants. CIEE’s BridgeUSA Celebration Tour is traveling America to recognize and celebrate these champions. Congratulations to the BridgeUSA 2025 Champions of Yellowstone National Park!
Monday, at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, we highlighted the local champions who make BridgeUSA programs possible, alongside the international participants who bring these programs to life.
2025 CIEE BridgeUSA Champion Awards for community excellence were presented to U.S. Senator Steve Daines (accepted by his field represenative John Durnal) and U.S. Representative Troy Downing (accepted by his district director Will Boone his field representative Zoey Stroop) for their support of BridgeUSA in Yellowstone National Park.
Xanterra Travel Collection was awarded a 2025 CIEE BridgeUSA Champion Award for organizational excellence in promoting BridgeUSA. The award was accepted by Mike Keller, General Manager, Xanterra Travel Collection at Yellowstone National Park.
Cat Labelle, Employee Programs Manager, and Carrie Holder, Human Resources Director, for Xanterra Travel Collection at Yellowstone National Park, were presented with 2025 CIEE BridgeUSA Champion Awards for individual excellence in promoting BridgeUSA.
Tuesday, at Old Faithful, we continued honoring on-the-ground champions to the incredible participants from all over the world who bring global perspective, energy, and connection to stunning Yellowstone National Park.
U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis was awarded a 2025 CIEE BridgeUSA Champion Award for community excellence for promoting BridgeUSA. Field Representative Jennifer Fernandez accepted the award on her behalf.
Park County Commissioners Dossie Overfield and Kelly Simone were awarded 2025 CIEE BridgeUSA Champion Awards for community excellence for support of BridgeUSA programs.
Xanterra Travel Collection was also awarded a 2025 CIEE BridgeUSA Champion Award for exceptional overall leadership in ensuring that all managers and team members of Xanterra Travel Collection at Yellowstone National Park support the BridgeUSA program. The award was accepted by Noel Mayes, Executive Director of Operations.
Xanterra Travel Collection was awarded a 2025 CIEE BridgeUSA Champion Award for the exceptional leadership and coordination of the BridgeUSA programs. The award was accepted by Meg Doran, Assistant Director of Human Resources.
Paige Carter, Employee Programs Coordinator for Xanterra Travel Collection at Yellowstone National Park, was awarded a 2025 CIEE BridgeUSA Champion Award for individual excellence for going above and beyond the call of duty to make sure BridgeUSA participants have the best experience possible by coordinating and running events for participants.