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CIEE Announces 2026 Young Civic Leadership Summit Summer Fellows

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CIEE is proud to announce the second cohort of 2026 Young Civic Leadership Summit (YCLS) Fellows. This year marks the first time CIEE has hosted the YCLS in both winter and summer, bringing the total number of YCLS Fellows in 2026 to a record 80.

Named in honor of U.S. Ambassador Johnny Young and Mrs. Angie Young, the YCLS brings together BridgeUSA participants from around the world for three days of intensive leadership training, intercultural learning, and civic engagement. 

CIEE will host this year's Summer YCLS on Aug. 10–13 in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.

The 2026 Young Civic Leadership Summit Fellows are:

  • Nafiona Hoxha (Albania) — Host Employer: The Beau Rivage Motel; Agency: Integral Albania
  • Veselin Petkov (Bulgaria) — Host Employer: Six Flags; Agency: USIT Colours
  • Xiaolei Gao (China) — Host Employer: Old Abe's Old Time Portraits; Agency: Shared Vision
  • Ye Lan (China) — Host Employer: Macondo Agency LLC; Agency: Sunnysky
  • Yilizhati Repikate (China) — Host Employer: Icona Windrift; Agency: Sunnysky
  • Yuquan Zhou (China) — Host Employer: Su Casa Restaurante; Agency: Shared Vision
  • Daniel Garavito Mendoza (Colombia) — Host Employer: Six Flags Discovery Kingdom; Agency: SEI
  • Sergio Armando Buitrago Rengifo (Colombia) — Host Employer: Wilderness Resort; Agency: SEI
  • Stefan Zundanovic (Croatia) — Host Employer: Macondo Agency LLC; Agency: Intergral Croatia
  • Enill Amador Echavarria (Dominican Republic) — Host Employer: Hampton Inn & Suite Wells Ogunquit; Agency: Grace International
  • Ralph Jimenez (Dominican Republic) — Host Employer: High Sierra Pools; Agency: Calexs
  • Ana Ramirez (Ecuador) — Host Employer: Xanterra Yellowstone National Park Lodges; Agency: Xplorer
  • Mohamed AbuZahra (Egypt) — Host Employer: Cedar Point; Agency: ExEgypt
  • Rokaya Shohdy (Egypt) — Host Employer: The Sugar Shack; Agency: ExEgypt
  • Laris-Ann Tamakloe (Ghana) — Host Employer: Mohonk Mountain House; Agency: Resort Leaders
  • Gabriella Bianka Csikos (Hungary) — Host Employer: Omni Mount Washington Resort; Agency: Resort Leaders
  • Nojiha (Temi) Arowora (Ireland) — Host Employer: Blazing Saddles Bike Rentals and Tours; Agency: CIEE Ireland
  • Jayson Fullwood (Jamaica) — Host Employer: Aramark Destinations Mesa Verde; Agency: IRSS
  • Nijae Bennett (Jamaica) — Host Employer: Boulders Resort; Agency: OFIT
  • Aituar Shagirov (Kazakhstan) — Host Employer: Cshore Kitchen and Bar; Agency: Airtravel
  • Aruzhan Akhmedyarova (Kazakhstan) — Host Employer: Main Street Market; Agency: Work and Travel Czech-Us
  • Aidaana Zhakypbekova (Kyrgyzstan) — Host Employer: Cragun’s; Agency: Smaller Earth Hungary
  • Tomas Galicinas (Lithuania) — Host Employer: Moreys Piers; Agency: Jaunimo Keliones
  • Luis Enrique Zamora Santiago (Mexico) — Host Employer: Romer House Waikiki; Agency: Resort Leaders
  • Valeria Espinosa Hijar (Mexico) — Host Employer: Cedar Point; Agency: Wice Mx
  • Boluwatife Odubanjo (Nigeria) — Host Employer: Hooks Calabash Seafood Buffet; Agency: Besor Associates
  • Anita Czekaj (Poland) — Host Employer: Stop and Shop Supermarket at Edgartown; Agency: The Best Way
  • Jakub Celebucki (Poland) — Host Employer: Old Oaks Country Club; Agency: The Best Way
  • Kacper Tomaszewski (Poland) — Host Employer: Stop and Shop Supermarket at Edgartown; Agency: The Best Way
  • Piotr Zielinski (Poland) — Host Employer: Anchorage Golf Course; Agency: BTC - Stany.Pl
  • Natalia Gjebinskaia (Republic of Moldova) — Host Employer: Forty 1 North; Agency: GTS Romania
  • Mara Macovei Moraru (Romania) — Host Employer: Lakehouse Grille; Agency: GTS Romania
  • Dmitrii Shaverin (Russian Federation) — Host Employer: Stop and Shop Supermarket at Provincetown; Agency: STAR Travel
  • Lucia Ozaniaková (Slovakia) — Host Employer: Seattle Shirt Company; Agency: Injoy Agency
  • Martina Kalmarova (Slovakia) — Host Employer: Grand View Lodge; Agency: Resort Leaders
  • Chiao Chi Chiang (Taiwan) — Host Employer: King's Island; Agency: CIEE Taiwan
  • Chih Hsuan Hsieh (Taiwan) — Host Employer: Xanterra Yellowstone National Park; Agency: CIEE Taiwan
  • Chun Lin Lin (Taiwan) — Host Employer: ExplorUS Crater Lake; Agency: CIEE Taiwan
  • Yi Lun Chen (Taiwan) — Host Employer: Morey's Piers; Agency: CIEE Taiwan
  • Natnicha Muhummad (Thailand) — Host Employer: Cedar Point; Agency: OEG
  • Parichaya Buranasomphop (Thailand) — Host Employer: Xanterra Parks & Resorts Glacier Park Lodges; Agency: OEG
  • Berfin Fidan Gok (Turkey) — Host Employer: Six Flags; Agency: Studyzone
  • Defne Bilge Hangisi (Turkey) — Host Employer: Clam Bar; Agency: Studyzone
  • Demirhan Demir (Turkey) — Host Employer: Xanterra Mount Rushmore; Agency: United Towers
  • Ece Nur Lelik (Turkey) — Host Employer: HAP Holland America Denali Lodge; Agency: Studyzone
  • Eylul Seyval Yildiz (Turkey) — Host Employer: Six Flags; Agency: Studyzone
  • Hatice Hatipoglu (Turkey) — Host Employer: Little Truckee Ice Creamery; Agency: Studyzone
  • Omer Faruk Ruzgar (Turkey) — Host Employer: AH Duryeas Orient Point; Agency: Studyzone
  • Zeynep Zisan Metin (Turkey) — Host Employer: Six Flags; Agency: Studyzone
  • Abbos Tuychiev (Uzbekistan) — Host Employer: The Sweet Life Cafe; Agency: USIT Colours

 

Ambassador Johnny Young and Mrs. Angie Young

Honoring a Legacy of Public Diplomacy

As a young man growing up in Philadelphia, Ambassador Johnny Young was sponsored by the YMCA-YWCA to participate in an international exchange program in Beirut in 1965—an experience that inspired his nearly 40-year career in public diplomacy and the U.S. Foreign Service.

Angie Young was an equal partner throughout that journey, known for her ability to build trust and foster mutual respect through diplomacy, hospitality, and service. She continues the Youngs’ legacy through her ongoing support of the YCLS.

CIEE renamed the YCLS in honor of Ambassador and Mrs. Young shortly before Ambassador Young’s passing in 2021, ensuring their decades-long commitment to service and international understanding continues to inspire future generations of global leaders. Since its founding, more than 600 fellows have participated in the YCLS. 

 

Follow CIEE on LinkedIn for updates on the 2026 Young Civic Leadership Summer Summit and CIEE BridgeUSA.

Learn more about CIEE BridgeUSA programs.