Ambassador Scholars Sizzle in the Sun During their Program in the United States

The Ambassador Scholarship Fund was awarded to Greenheart by the Department of State and continues to be implemented until the end of the Winter Season of 2025. This opportunity is a merit-based scholarship that allows those interested in joining the Work and Travel program to do so without having to worry about financial strain.

After reviewing more than 7,000 applications, Greenheart selected 51 scholars from 18 different countries to travel throughout the United States. Additionally, Greenheart was awarded two additional scholarships through the U.S. Embassy in Cyprus and the U.S. Embassy in Greece. The extra funding gave 11 spots for students in Greece and two additional spots for students in Cyprus. Giving us a total of 64 Ambassador Scholars for the summer of 2025. Each participant was awarded the grant because of their passion and commitment to their education and to helping those around them. Congratulations!

As these 64 participants traveled to their host organizations throughout the country, Ambassador Scholars can be found in Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, and more. Though 64 is a small number in the grand scheme of Greenheart Work and Travel participants, many were paired with the same host organization. Since the group was familiar with each other through virtual meetings and trainings, pairing scholars together helped provide support with this new experience.

The Ambassador Scholarship Fund has given life-changing experiences to over 75 college students from around the world. With program fees, visa fees, flight costs to the United States, program health insurance, and SEVIS fees covered under this scholarship, it has allowed students to feel less burdened by the financial aspects of the Work and Travel program and experience America’s culture, food, people, and environment.

The photo above shows scholar Khánh, to the left, from Vietnam. She is dining at The Cheesecake Factory for the first time. They had such a pleasant experience at the popular chain, mentioning that the food was so “gloriously delicious, I felt like I was on my way to meet God himself.”

After asking Khánh how their program is going thus far, they go on to share, “I am doing great! Everyone has been amazingly nice and welcoming. The job is super fun. My favorite thing so far is how surrounded I am by American native flora. I just can’t stop smiling, looking at the lush green forest outside my place every morning.”

Alongside the food, shopping, and sunshine, scholars are passionate about volunteering and take time from their program to support the local host community they have joined. Tasnime from Algeria has shown great passion for her job and her community in the United States. She goes on to say, “I’ve had the chance to volunteer [at a local high school], where I presented Algerian culture to students through music, dance, and games. It was an incredible opportunity to share traditions from back home and connect with the kids through interactive cultural activities.” She has also volunteered at a community center, where she helps distribute and organize food for local families.

One of the greatest achievements of this scholarship is sharing culture. The world is an enormous place filled with billions of people, but just one cultural exchange program makes the world a little bit smaller. Steven from Egypt enjoys different environments and is currently placed with a host organization in Alaska. He shared that he goes on hikes with his roommate, who is from Ukraine. Steven shared that, “I taught him how to make a very authentic Egyptian dish called ‘Weeka,’ and we exchanged our opinions about the wedding music and songs, and the cultural differences in wedding celebrations in Egypt and Ukraine.”

Greenheart is extremely proud of our Ambassador Scholars as they bridge the cultural gap, educate, learn, volunteer, and encourage others to participate in a cultural exchange program, becoming global citizens.

Next up? Greenheart is already preparing for the Winter 2025 Ambassador Scholarship season. 14 marvelous college students have been chosen from Fiji, Zambia, Papua New Guinea, Argentina, Panama, and Costa Rica. They are currently working through the process and steps to spend their university break in the United States beginning in October.

Looking to hire seasonal staff for your business? Click here for more information about Greenheart’s Work and Travel program.