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:
| Participant | Employer | Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Aituar Shagirov | Cshore Kitchen and Bar | Airtravel |
| Boluwatife Odubanjo | Hooks Calabash Seafood Buffet | Besor Associates |
| Piotr Zielinski | Anchorage Golf Course | BTC - Stany.Pl |
| Ralph Jimenez | High Sierra Pools | Calexs |
| Nojiha (Temi) Arowora | Blazing Saddles Bike Rentals and Tours | CIEE Ireland |
| Chun Lin Lin | ExplorUS Crater Lake | CIEE Taiwan |
| Chih Hsuan Hsieh | Xanterra | CIEE Taiwan |
| Yi Lun Chen | Morey's Piers | CIEE Taiwan |
| Chiao Chi Chiang | King's Island | CIEE Taiwan |
| Erti Beqiri | Stop and Shop | Discover America |
| Mohamed AbuZahra | Morey's Piers | ExEgypt |
| Rokaya Shohdy | The Sugar Shack | ExEgypt |
| Enill Amador Echavarria | Hampton Inn & Suite Wells Ogunquit | Grace International |
| Natalia Gjebinskaia | Forty 1 North | GTS Romania |
| Mara Macovei Moraru | Lakehouse Grille | GTS Romania |
| Lucia Ozaniaková | Seattle Shirt Company | Injoy Agency |
| Nafiona Hoxha | The Beau Rivage Motel | Integral Albania |
| Stefan Zundanovic | Macondo Agency LLC | Intergral Croatia |
| Jayson Fullwood | Aramark Destinations Mesa Verde | IRSS |
| Tomas Galicinas | Moreys Piers | Jaunimo Keliones |
| Natnicha Muhummad | Cedar Point | OEG |
| Parichaya Buranasomphop | Xanterra Parks & Resorts Glacier Park Lodges | OEG |
| Nijae Bennett | Boulders Resort | OFIT |
| Martina Kalmarova | Grand View Lodge | Resort Leaders |
| Laris-Ann Tamakloe | Mohonk Mountain House | Resort Leaders |
| Gabriella Bianka Csikos | Omni Mount Washington Resort | Resort Leaders |
| Luis Enrique Zamora Santiago | Romer House Waikiki | Resort Leaders |
| Sergio Armando Buitrago Rengifo | Wilderness Resort | SEI |
| Xiaolei Gao | Old Abe’s Old Time Portraits | Shared Vision |
| Yuquan Zhou | Su Casa Restaurante | Shared Vision |
| Aidaana Zhakypbekova | Breezy Point Resort | Smaller Earth Hungary |
| Dmitrii Shaverin | Stop and Shop Supermarket at Provincetown 2403 | STAR Travel |
| Berfin Fidan Gok | Six Flags | Studyzone |
| Zeynep Zisan Metin | Six Flags | Studyzone |
| Ece Nur Lelik | HAP Holland America Denali Lodge | Studyzone |
| Defne Bilge Hangisi | Clam Bar | Studyzone |
| Hatice Hatipoglu | Little Truckee Ice Creamery | Studyzone |
| Eylul Seyval Yildiz | Six Flags | Studyzone |
| Omer Faruk Ruzgar | AH Duryeas Orient Point | Studyzone |
| Lan Ye | Hooks Calabash Seafood Buffet | Sunnysky |
| Yilizhati Repikate | Icona Windrift | Sunnysky |
| Shenyang Zhang | Giant Food | Sunnysky |
| Kacper Tomaszewski | Stop & Shop at Edgartown 422 | The Best Way |
| Anita Czekaj | Stop and Shop Supermarket at Edgartown | The Best Way |
| Demirhan Demir | Xanterra Mount Rushmore | United Towers |
| Veselin Petkov | Six Flags | USIT Colours |
| Abbos Tuychiev | The Sweet Life Cafe | USIT Colours |
| Valeria Espinosa Hijar | Cedar Point | Wice Mx |
| Aruzhan Akhmedyarova | Main Street Market | Work and Travel Czech-Us |
| Ana Ramirez | Xanterra Yellowstone National Park Lodges | Xplorer |
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.