Meet the Finalists of CIEE's Spring 2026 Community Impact Global Poster Competition
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Studying abroad is about so much more than earning credits and checking destinations off your bucket list. At CIEE, community engagement is an important part of the study abroad experience, empowering students to build authentic connections, contribute to local communities through service, and create meaningful impact that lasts long after their program ends.
To expand these opportunities, CIEE Study Abroad launched the CIEE Community Impact Initiative, a global effort to deepen community engagement across its study abroad programs. During the spring 2026 semester, more than 350 students from colleges and universities across the United States volunteered with one of CIEE's 160+ community service partners. Additionally, more than 1,000 CIEE students and staff participated in CIEE’s inaugural Community Impact Week, working alongside local organizations in 45+ cities around the world. Together, these efforts demonstrate CIEE's commitment to fostering meaningful partnerships and creating lasting impact in communities across the globe.
As part of the initiative, CIEE also introduced its first Community Impact Global Poster Competition in spring 2026 to celebrate students who transformed their service-learning experiences abroad into powerful visual stories. Through creative posters, participants reflected on the connections they made, the lessons they learned, and the lasting impact of their community engagement. From more than 30 global submissions, CIEE selected seven regional finalists to represent their study abroad locations.
This November, those finalists will travel to Cape Town, South Africa, for the 79th annual CIEE Study Abroad Conference, where they'll present their posters on an international stage, compete for awards, and have the chance to win a CIEE donation for the community organization they served – helping their impact continue long after they've returned home.
Meet this year's inspiring finalists and join us in celebrating their service work!
As Long as There is Beauty – CIEE Cape Town
Jayden Thomas, University of Alabama
CIEE Program: Open Campus Block
At Sinovuyo Senior Club in Cape Town, Jayden discovered that community can flourish through shared purpose. His poster reflects volunteering alongside seniors in a community garden, where planting vegetables became a way to cultivate connection, dignity, and resilience. Through meaningful conversations about history, identity, and everyday life, Jayden learned that communities are defined by the strength and beauty people create together. His moving reflection reminds us that even during difficult moments, there's always beauty to be found in human connection.
More Than Just Breakfast – CIEE Madrid
Mary O’Boyle, Indiana University – Bloomington
CIEE Program: Semester in Madrid
For Mary, volunteering with Todos a Desayunar in Madrid proved that small acts of kindness can have a ripple effect. While helping serve breakfast to elementary school students, she built relationships through conversation, games, and shared laughter. Her poster highlights how something as simple as a morning meal can improve confidence, learning, and opportunity while reminding volunteers that meaningful service begins with humility, respect, and genuine connection.
Community Impact with CIEE – CIEE Prague
Beatrice Herbstman, Oberlin College
CIEE Program: Semester in Prague
Teaching English to fourth-grade students at Vratislavova Elementary School gave Beatrice a deeper understanding of what it means to become part of a community abroad. Rather than simply visiting Prague, she became a consistent presence in her students' lives, sharing American culture while learning about Czech traditions through them. Her poster captures the power of slowing down, building authentic relationships, and recognizing that even study abroad students can make a lasting difference through service and cultural exchange.
Connection Beyond Language – CIEE Lisbon
Nicolas West, University of Pennsylvania
CIEE Program: Language + Culture
Nicolas’ experience volunteering with +Skillz in Lisbon demonstrates that connection doesn't always require words. Working with migrant and underserved youth through sports, games, and daily activities, he discovered that trust is built through consistency and presence. His poster explores mentorship, identity, and belonging while emphasizing that meaningful community engagement is about showing up, listening, and creating spaces where everyone feels seen.
Community Kitchen – CIEE Mérida
Travis Anane, Rutgers University
CIEE Program: Open Campus Block
In Mérida, Travis volunteered with Comedor Zarigüeyas, a community kitchen that supports children and families facing food insecurity. Whether preparing tortillas, chopping vegetables, or serving meals, Travis contributed to an organization rooted in care and community. His poster highlights the power of collective action while reflecting on how the experience strengthened his Spanish, deepened his appreciation for Mexican culture, and reinforced his commitment to serving underserved communities throughout his future career in medicine.
Making Education Accessible for Every Child – CIEE Seoul
Olivia Nguyen, Syracuse University
CIEE Program: Arts + Sciences (Yonsei University)
Olivia focused her service on expanding educational access for children with diverse learning needs. While studying in Seoul, she taught English to elementary school students and recorded audiobooks for visually impaired children, helping increase access to educational materials. Her poster highlights how even small contributions – whether teaching one student or recording another an audiobook – can make education more inclusive and accessible for thousands of learners.
Girl Guides – CIEE Sydney
Zoe Sterner, University of Colorado – Boulder
CIEE Program: Arts + Sciences (University of New South Wales)
Through volunteering with Girl Guides Australia, Zoe helped create a welcoming environment where girls could build confidence, develop leadership skills, and express themselves. Her poster captures her experience mentoring young participants, celebrating Australian traditions, and learning alongside the girls she supported. Zoe’s service work project reinforced how community engagement builds empathy, cultural understanding, and meaningful relationships that leave a lasting impact on both volunteers and participants.
Congratulations to Our Finalists
Each of CIEE's spring 2026 Community Impact Global Poster Competition finalists demonstrates what makes CIEE's service work projects so meaningful. Service isn't about changing a community overnight – it's about building relationships, learning from others, and growing alongside the people who welcome you to contribute to lasting change.
Congratulations to Jayden, Mary, Beatrice, Nicolas, Travis, Olivia, and Zoe for representing their CIEE Centers with creativity, compassion, and purpose. We can't wait to see them showcase their work at the annual CIEE Study Abroad Conference this November!
Ready to Make an Impact Abroad?
Your study abroad experience can be about more than classes and travel. Through CIEE's Community Impact Initiative, you'll have the opportunity to work alongside local organizations, reflect on your service work, and maybe even see your project featured in a future Community Impact Global Poster Competition!