CIEE BridgeUSA Celebration Tour
Celebrating the Power of Exchange Across America
In 2025, CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange) launched a nationwide, three-year BridgeUSA Celebration Tour to highlight the powerful role international cultural exchange plays in strengthening American communities.
Now traveling across the country, the Tour celebrates the employers, host families, participants, and communities who bring the power of exchange to life every day.
From local businesses and seasonal employers to civic leaders and community partners, the Celebration Tour shines a spotlight on the people and places helping demonstrate how BridgeUSA makes America safer, stronger, and more prosperous through cultural exchange, economic prosperity, and global understanding.
BridgeUSA shows the world the power and magic of American values.
Why the Celebration Tour Matters
The CIEE BridgeUSA Celebration Tour was created to highlight the extraordinary impact that international exchange has on American communities.
Across the country, BridgeUSA participants help businesses grow, strengthen local economies, and build meaningful connections with everyday Americans. At the same time, participants return home with a deeper understanding of American culture, values, and community life.
Through employer recognitions, community events, local storytelling, and stakeholder engagement, the Celebration Tour brings these stories to life and celebrates the communities that make exchange possible.
How BridgeUSA Makes America Safer, Stronger, and More Prosperous
Safer Through Global Understanding
BridgeUSA programs strengthen America’s public diplomacy by building mutual respect and understanding between Americans and people from around the world.
Participants return home as ambassadors for the United States, carrying with them firsthand experiences of American communities, workplaces, and values.
Stronger Through Community and Connection
BridgeUSA strengthens American communities by creating lasting relationships between participants, host employers, host families, and local residents.
These experiences foster friendship, cultural understanding, and people-to-people diplomacy that continues long after the program ends.
More Prosperous Through Economic Impact
BridgeUSA participants support thousands of American businesses and communities each year.
From hospitality and tourism to retail and local services, exchange participants help businesses extend their operating seasons, support domestic jobs, and drive local economic activity.
BridgeUSA adds billions to the U.S. economy each year and adds, on average, 50 days to the tourism season, creating thousands of jobs for Americans.
Tour Stops Across America
Follow the Celebration Tour as it travels coast to coast, celebrating the communities, employers, and partners who make BridgeUSA possible.
Upcoming Stops
- Mackinac Island, MI – June 2026
- Wisconsin Dells, WI – August 2026
- Ocean City, MD – September 2026
- Whitefish, MT – March 2027
- Jackson Hole, WY – June 2027
- Charlotte, NC – August 2027
Interested in attending, partnering, or learning more about an upcoming stop?
Past Stops
- Park City, UT – March 2026
- San Antonio, TX – September 2025
- Myrtle Beach, SC – August 2025
- Big Sky, MT – July 2025
- Yellowstone National Park, WY – July 2025
- Cedar Point, OH – June 2025
- Kings Island, OH – June 2025
- Kentucky Kingdom, KY – June 2025
Explore stories, videos, and highlights from each stop below.
Stories from the Road
Every Celebration Tour stop tells a story.
From employers extending their seasons to participants building lifelong friendships, these stories showcase the real impact of BridgeUSA across America.
Explore event recaps, employer spotlights, participant voices, and community highlights from tour stops nationwide.
CIEE's BridgeUSA Celebration Tour: Ohio and Kentucky Stops
CIEE launched a year-long, nationwide, BridgeUSA Celebration Tour to raise awareness of the power of BridgeUSA to improve the lives of all Americans.
CIEE Promotes BridgeUSA at Cedar Point
At the foundation of Sandusky’s tourism industry are hundreds of international employees who, with the help of CIEE and BridgeUSA, support Cedar Point’s seasonal economy.
CIEE's BridgeUSA Celebration Tour: Wyoming and Montana Stops
CIEE launched a three-year, nationwide BridgeUSA Celebration Tour to raise awareness of the power of BridgeUSA to help strengthen local business and enrich local communities.
Watch the Tour in Action
CIEE BridgeUSA Champion Awards
The BridgeUSA Champion Award recognizes the employers, host families, community leaders, and partners whose commitment to exchange strengthens America.
These honorees exemplify what it means to create welcoming communities for participants, support American businesses, and foster meaningful cultural exchange.
| Year | Honoree | Organization | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | U.S. Representative Mike Kennedy | United States Congress | Utah |
| 2026 | Becca Gerber | Park City Chamber of Commerce | Utah |
| 2026 | Meg Wandishin | Deer Valley Resort | Utah |
| 2026 | Jacki Adragna | Stein Collection | Utah |
| 2026 | Grace McCollum | Vail Resorts | Utah |
| 2026 | Stacie Moore | Sheraton Park City | Utah |
| 2025 | Cedar Point | Six Flags | Ohio |
| 2025 | Amy Therien | Six Flags | Ohio |
| 2025 | Kaitlin Wattrick | Cedar Point | Ohio |
| 2025 | Nicole Wade | Shores & Islands | Ohio |
| 2025 | Kings Island | Six Flags | Ohio |
| 2025 | Gianna Fontanella | Kings Island | Ohio |
| 2025 | Ryan Nance | Kings Island | Ohio |
| 2025 | Kel Harper | Six Flags | Ohio |
| 2025 | U.S. Representative Greg Landsman | United States Congress | Ohio |
| 2025 | Kentucky Kingdom | Kentucky Kingdom | Kentucky |
| 2025 | Sarah Worrell | Kentucky Kingdom | Kentucky |
| 2025 | Ramon Finch | Kentucky Kingdom | Kentucky |
| 2025 | Emily Randall | Kentucky Kingdom | Kentucky |
| 2025 | U.S. Senator Rand Paul | United States Congress | Kentucky |
| 2025 | John Hughes | Kentucky Chamber of Commerce | Kentucky |
| 2025 | U.S. Senator Steve Daines | United States Congress | Montana |
| 2025 | U.S. Representative Troy Downing | United States Congress | Montana |
| 2025 | U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy | United States Congress | Montana |
| 2025 | Travis Watt, Deputy Mayor | West Yellowstone | Montana |
| 2025 | Laura Seyfang | Big Sky Rotary | Montana |
| 2025 | Xanterra Travel Collection | Xanterra Travel Collection | Yellowstone National Park |
| 2025 | Mike Keller | Xanterra Travel Collection | Yellowstone National Park |
| 2025 | Cat Labelle | Xanterra Travel Collection | Yellowstone National Park |
| 2025 | Noel Mayes | Xanterra Travel Collection | Yellowstone National Park |
| 2025 | Carrie Holder | Xanterra Travel Collection | Yellowstone National Park |
| 2025 | Paige Carter | Xanterra Travel Collection | Yellowstone National Park |
| 2025 | U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis | United States Congress | Wyoming |
| 2025 | Dossie Overfield | Park County | Wyoming |
| 2025 | Kelly Simone | Park County | Wyoming |
| 2025 | U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham | United States Congress | South Carolina |
| 2025 | Lt. Allen Amick | Myrtle Beach Police Department | South Carolina |
| 2025 | Jada Hudson | Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce | South Carolina |
| 2025 | Victoria Tobin | Myrtle Beach Area Hospitality Association | South Carolina |
| 2025 | Lazarus Entertainment Group | Lazarus Entertainment Group | South Carolina |
| 2025 | Kathy Winfree | Myrtle Beach Work & Travel Liaison | South Carolina |
| 2025 | Rebecca Lopez | IDEA South Flores College Prep | Texas |
| 2025 | Dr. Sukh Kaur | San Antonio City Council, District 1 | Texas |
| 2025 | Marthy Henry | San Antonio Global Engagement Office | Texas |
| 2025 | Tanzilla Kaiumova | San Antonio Global Engagement Office | Texas |
| 2025 | Samantha Skory | San Antonio Global Engagement Office | Texas |
| 2025 | Nick Almendarez | Marriott Gaylord Texan Resort | Texas |
| 2025 | Melissa Killen | Killen, Griffin & Farrimond PLLC | Texas |
| 2025 | Rob Killen | San Antonio Chamber of Commerce | Texas |
Meet Our Champions
Celebrating the 2026 CIEE BridgeUSA Champion Awards in Park City
CIEE was in the Mountain West this week for the ninth stop on its nationwide celebration of the U.S. Department of State’s BridgeUSA international exchange programs.
2025 BridgeUSA Champion Awards – San Antonio
CIEE senior leadership met with San Antonio city officials, community partners, and students to strengthen global engagement efforts and highlight the city’s role in international exchange.
2025 BridgeUSA Champion Awards - Myrtle Beach
CIEE senior leaders were in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina earlier this week as part of our three year-long celebration of the U.S. Department of State's BridgeUSA international exchange programs.
champions2
2025 BridgeUSA Champion Awards - Montana and Wyoming
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!
2025 BridgeUSA Champion Awards
CIEE is in America's heartland, kicking off our summerlong celebration of the U.S. Department of State's BridgeUSA international exchange programs.
Voices of Impact
Hear directly from the employers, community leaders, and participants whose stories bring the Celebration Tour to life.
Be Part of the Celebration
Interested in participating in a future Celebration Tour stop?
Whether you are a host employer, community leader, media partner, or advocate for exchange, we welcome the opportunity to connect.
Join us in celebrating the people and communities that make BridgeUSA possible.