Washington World Fellows

Global Education. Local Ambition.

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Shaping future leaders through global exploration.

The Washington World Fellowship is a 2.5-year global leadership program that seeks to cultivate global leadership and future success in young Washingtonians by providing access to unique academic, travel, and leadership opportunities.

The Washington World Fellows Program is open to high school sophomores and is administered at no cost to students and their families.

Almost every Washington World Fellow plans to be the first in their family to attend college.

Civic Engagement. Career Preparation. Global Leadership.

WWF International Ambassadors is a global leadership program that focuses on developing leadership skills through global travel.

During the summer between their junior and senior year, fellows will take part in a college-level study abroad experience in Spain, where they will study the Spanish history and language and immerse themselves in Spanish culture by living with local homestay families.

During the course of the program, fellows will participate in a variety of activities, which will include career preparation, travel, global leadership development, and college application assistance. The fellows will also have access to leadership opportunities, including civic engagement activities, internship/externship experiences, and international student forums.

This program was created with the goal of offering a transformative experience to students that will expand their minds while opening doors to unique academic and leadership opportunities few students have the chance to experience. For that reason, the programs require a serious commitment from fellows to work hard and apply themselves throughout. In return, fellows gain confidence, improve their academic skills, develop leadership skills, and successfully prepare for their future. They also tend to develop lifelong friendships that enrich their sense of community and their understanding of the world.

If you believe you are the type of student who will excel in such a program, visit our application page.

Study Abroad - Summer After the Fellows' Junior Year

Location: Logroño, Spain

Informational Pre-Departure Sessions:

Fellows will participate in a series of pre-departure orientations, including a Welcome Day celebration in the spring to acquaint students, families, and program directors with one another. In addition to the Welcome Day, students will be required to participate in several online webinar seminars to prepare them for the study abroad program.

Program Administration: 

The Washington World Fellows study abroad program is led by on-site by the Washington World Fellows Director of Programing and other staff, who will chaperone students for the duration of the trip. Prior to the trip, staff will lead pre-departure orientation sessions, gather student paperwork and passport information, and assist with questions from students and guardians.

Academic Courses: 

Students will take Spanish language and culture courses taught by accredited teachers that will lead all classroom instruction and academic field trips.

Lodging:

Students are matched with local homestay families in the Logroño area. The homestay families are vetted by the local government and approved by the Washington World Fellows program. Homestay families are expected to provide a supportive atmosphere to their students. Throughout the trip, all student meals will be provided, as well as access to laundry services at least once a week.

Field Trips: 

The Washington World Fellows will make many trips to sites of interest in the local area as well as locations in nearby regions. Field trips will be led by the program teachers, and all field trips will be chaperoned by World Fellows staff.  

International Youth Summit with World Fellows España:

During the fellows’ junior year, the Washington World Fellows will participate in an international virtual exchange with students from World Fellows España. This collaboration will culminate in the annual youth summit, designed and directed by students. It will be presented to local government officials and community leaders in Viana, Spain. The title of the 2023 summit was Planet S.O.S.

Civic Engagement

Fellows will have the opportunity to participate in a civic education course designed by the Washington State Leadership Board. They will also be given assistance in finding ways to become involved in local and state government.

Career Preparation

During the program, fellows will have the opportunity to work in groups and individually to design a path towards their futures. They will work on developing time management and other positive habits to improve academic performance. They will spend time researching colleges, career and technical (CT) programs, and other post-high school opportunities. By understanding the specific requirements of those pathways, they will craft portfolios that maximize their chances of acceptance. Fellows also benefit from dedicated support in completing applications by mentors and staff who provide assistance with the application essay writing.

Global Leadership

Starting the summer after their sophomore year, fellows participate in a global leadership program that is a collaboration between the Washington World Fellows and World Fellows España. The group meets to discuss different issues that impact youth, and work together to design and present an international youth summit that occurs during the study abroad portion of the program.

The Washington State Leadership Board will also remain an open resource to World Fellows students throughout their high school and college experiences.

Past Cohorts:

  • Addy Deline - Thorp High School

    Adileyn Hunt - Riverside High School

    Ariana Delgado - Kent-Meridian High School

    Daniel Sánchez Gatica - Shelton High School

    Harlow Slatten - Hanford High School

    Kai Brown - Capitol High School

    Kamielle Washington - Rogers High School

    Lila Freeman - Marysville Pilchuck High School

    Milán Rivera Valencia - Marysville Pilchuck High School

    Oriana Rosas Marquez - Squalicum High School

    Rey Gregorio Medina - Shelton High School

    Riley Engels - North Central High School

    Ruben Alexander Rojo - Enumclaw High School

    Sheila Trujillo Jasso - Franklin High School

    Yurida Pablo Ahilon - Shelton High School

  • Domestic Advocates

    Amanat Kaur Narwal - Mount Vernon High School

    Ava Nicole Conte - Anacortes High School

    Berenice Anabel Francisco Zacarias - Shelton High School

    Boon Dumrong - Shorecrest High School

    Ellie (Eleanor) Ann Suhm - D.D. Eisenhower High School

    Lue (Elizabeth) Abigail Grace Barela - West Valley High School

    Katherine Alyssa Solberg - Hanford High School

    Marlen Hernandez Cobian - Enumclaw High School

    Maverik Ryan Roberts - Hanford High School

    Rachel Marie Sharrett - Bremerton High School

    Vy Phuong Le - Olympia High School

    International Ambassadors

    Aareel Washington - North Central High School

    Audrey Sue Roberts – Hanford High School

    Chase Gordon Ross - Oak Harbor High School

    Dawn (Damaris) J. Rosas - Mount Vernon High School

    Emily Lauren Granizo - Rainier Beach High School

    Lupe (Guadalupe) Decire Medina - Trout Lake High School

    Jahaira Romo-Perez - Mount Vernon High School

    Jazlin Betancourt - West Valley High School

    Jiselle Quintana-Ivarra - Kent Meridian High School

    Josue Alexander Perez-Pena - Kent-Meridian High School

    Kayelle Elizabeth Montano - Shelton High School

    Kaylee Kay Owens - Riverside High School

    Pedro Madera Nava Jr - Grandview High School

    Rio Miranda Hanckle Cameron - Shorecrest High School

    Sonia Elisabet Alvarado Montejo - Shelton High School

  • Anselmo Lauriano Lopez-Martinez - kent-merdian high school

    Atasha Niña Faye Danojog Velarde - North Central High School

    Betsmona Alemshowa - Lakeside School

    Bradlee Conde Martinez -Mount Vernon High School

    Caitlin To Pham - West Valley High School

    Isaias Jose Gonzalez Guerrero - Squalicum high school

    Jairus Mykel Cardenas Cruz - Rainier Beach High School

    Jennifer Cano Alvarez - Auburn High School

    O'Rhea Sky Duman - Asotin High School

    Pedro Picazo - Centralia High School

    Savannah Jaymes Craig-Landrum - Bremerton High School

    Silvia Camilla Arevalo-Harrington - Oroville Jr/High School

    Virginia Arizmendi Guadarrama - Bremerton High School

    Ximena Uvalle - Trout Lake School

  • Sophia Ballesteros - Squalicum High School

    Richard Beckman - Shelton High School

    Mariah Cornejo - Eisenhower High School

    Angela De La Cruz - Lincoln High School

    Za'Maya Deloney - Skyview High School

    Josiah Dunn - North Central High School

    Israel Gebremariam - Garfield High School

    Jorge Gonzalez - Westside High School

    Michelle Gonzalez - Enumclaw High School

    Sir Keenan Hart - O'Dea High School

    Caroline Heege - Shorecrest High School

    Sky Jones - Stevenson High School

    George Maldonado Cruz - Mount Vernon High School

    Italia Rivera - Marysville Pilchuck High School

    Chloe Sow - The Downtown School

    Herani Zemene - Rainier Beach HS

  • Esmeralda Alfaro-Chavez - Squalicum High School

    Miriam Gutierrez - Tonasket High School

    Poppy Hildebrandt - Ilwaco High School

    Zachary Lewis - Olympia High School

    Israel Lopez - Sedro Woolley High School

    Sandra Mercado Vargas - Tyee High School

    Itahi Perez-Tapia - Mount Vernon High School

    Caitlin Peterson - Gibson Ek High School

    Christian Sanchez - Grandview High School

    Hannah Tan - Renton High School

    Ariana Vargas - Grandview High School

    Giselle Vargas Lima - Snohomish High School

    Madison Weidler - Washington High School

  • Alexis Mosquite - Franklin Pierce High School

    Bailee Ross - Riverside High School

    Emma Brown - Lewis and Clark High School

    Francisco Alvarez - Chief Sealth International High School

    Izael Sosa - Union High School

    Izais Nunez - Olympia High School

    Jeremiah Lenard - Lincoln High School

    Kaylisha Fields-Garcia - Lincoln High School

    Lance Hammel - Anacortes High School

    Reena Kaifa - Jackson High School

    Rhiann Batson - East Valley High School

    Sara Daunis - Newport High School

    Telli Rivas - North Central High School

    Yareli Farias - Pasco High School

  • Alejandra Pulido – Bremerton High School

    Angel Miller – Mark Morris High School

    Angelica Perez Vicente – Bellingham High School

    Ariana Parra – Chiawana High School

    Ava Rockerfeller Campbell – Eagle Harbor High School

    Brian Conde-Martinez – Mount Vernon High School

    Cierra Gulling – Highline CHOICE Academy

    David Huerta – Squalicum High School

    Geobanny Pineda Cuevas – Grandview High School

    Ian Morfin – Valencia – Wenatchee High School

    Jennifer Aguilar Bamaca - Chief Sealth High School

    Justice Brown - Mariner High School

    Luis Carrera - Laura – Todd Beamer High School

    Makenzie Jones – Riverside High School

    Raechelle Pidone – Olympia High School

  • AARON PADILLA MONTERREY - SEHOME HIGH SCHOOL

    AILEEN GARCIA - OTHELLO HIGH SCHOOL

    AMBER SILVERS - BREMERTON HIGH SCHOOL

    ANISA ROBINSON - GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL

    CARLOS BARAJAS-ZAMORA - SNOHOMISH HIGH SCHOOL

    CRISTINA CALLEROS MARTIN - BELLINGHAM HIGH SCHOOL

    DANIEL NEARY - CAPITAL HIGH SCHOOL

    EDGAR MARTINEZ - MARYSVILLE PILCHUCK HIGH SCHOOL

    EMERSEN SLANGA - LAKESIDE HIGH SCHOOL

    JAQUELINE ALVAREZ - EASTMONT HIGH SCHOOL

    LUIS BRAVO - CHIEF SEALTH INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

    MICHELLE JIMENEZ - SQUALICUM HIGH SCHOOL

    RYLEIGH TREICHEL - R. A. LONG HIGH SCHOOL

    TAYAH KOHLER - INCHELIUM HIGH SCHOOL

Student Testimonials and Cohort Videos

The History of the Washington World Fellows

Former Lt. Governor Cyrus Habib launched the Washington World Fellows program in 2017 in partnership with the Washington State Leadership Board as the state’s first global leadership program for high school students. The purpose of the program is to provide students who may lack access to similar opportunities with training that will enhance their high school academics, support their trajectory into college, and encourage them to become leaders in their communities and beyond. Almost every Washington World Fellow plans to be the first in their family to attend college.