CIEE Ambassadors Announced for Fall 2024

Congratulations to the newest CIEE Ambassadors for the upcoming Fall 2024 term! Our ambassadors are available to answer your questions. Stay connected with their journeys abroad by following their social media profiles linked below!

Haimanot Shimeles

Instagram: @haiman0t

Hi everyone! My name is Haimanot Shimeles and I am from Los Angeles, California. I am so excited to be a CIEE ambassador for the 2024 school year. I have always had a passion for exploring different cultures and perspectives which is why I chose to study abroad. I studied abroad with CIEE last summer and I am excited to be returning for an entire semester. My experience with CIEE was invaluable and I was unable to resist when I received the email about their First Year Abroad program.

Rose Dupuis

Program: High School Semester Abroad in France

Instagram: @rose.elizabeth.13

I’m Rose Dupuis, from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in the Berkshires. My motivation to study abroad is to improve my language skills and immerse myself in French culture. I would like to experience life in another country and be able to become wiser about the world and become more empathetic because of my experience. I love France; my parents took me when I was young, and I want to learn more about France and its culture. I am excited about the opportunity to meet new people and share what I am seeing and experiencing with others!

Hazel McDiarmid

Program: High School Semester Abroad in France

Instagram: @globally.hazel

I’m Hazel, and I’m from Cambridge, MA! I’m excited to study abroad so I can improve my French language and cultural understanding. I’ve lived in New Zealand and also spent much time traveling abroad; some of my favorite destinations include Iceland and Amsterdam. I can’t wait to experience France and share my journey with you!

Luna Sellan

Program: High School Semester Abroad in Japan

Instagram: @lunase777

Tik Tok: @runapi7

Hi, my name is Luna, I live in Brooklyn, New York, and I will be studying abroad for the 2024 academic year in Japan! When I was younger, my mother would enroll me in a local Japanese elementary school for a couple weeks during the summer. I would see Japanese high schoolers on my commute, and I really wanted to be like them. I'm not very good at reading and writing in Japanese but I'm determined to learn and I'm so excited to be able to study abroad this coming school year!

Mara Branum

Program: High School Semester Abroad in Spain

Instagram: @marainseville

Hello! My name is Mara, and I’m going to be studying abroad in Seville, Spain for an academic year in the Fall. I chose to study abroad because I love traveling and reminding myself that there are always places to see, people to meet, and adventures to be on. I’ve never been outside of North America, so I’m very excited to experience life in Spain and Europe. I’m grateful for the chance to share my upcoming trip as a CIEE Ambassador, and hope others can be inspired to get out of their comfort zone and study abroad too!

Elena Marshall

Program: High School Semester Abroad in Japan

Instagram: @e.marshall.95

Tik Tok: @thejanitorscloset195

Setting sail from northern Chicagoland, I am set to explore my way through Kyoto in the fall of 2024! I'm incredibly excited to experience life abroad in Japan during my 2nd year of high school. I can't wait to share everything I discover with the world. Some things you might find out about me are that I love cooking for and with everybody, my camera is always by my side, I'm not much of a bookworm but I really enjoy school, my dream is to become a linguist, and I have a deep passion for karate. I chose to study abroad mainly to improve my Japanese skills, but also because it's a chance for me to connect with new people, join new clubs, make new friends, and find new teammates!

Lindsey Andel

Program: Gap Year Abroad in Spain

Instagram: @lins.andel

Tik Tok: @lins.333

Hi, I’m Lindsey and I'm from Denver, Colorado! I’ve lived in Colorado my entire life and traveling has always been a strong passion of mine. When I was in middle school, I got the opportunity to raft the Grand Canyon for 7 days. That trip taught me some valuable lessons about traveling and inspired my passion to travel more. I’ve been to Hawaii, London, etc. I love meeting different people and understanding their cultures. Learning people’s stories and gaining a different perspective on my life is such an amazing experience. That’s why I’m so excited for this experience in Seville Spain, where I get to learn about new foods, people, music, traditions, and viewpoints on life.

Fiona Sanchez

Program: First Year Abroad in Kyoto

Instagram: @moguurin

Hi! My name is Fiona. I was born in New York, but I currently live in San Diego. I'm super happy to get this opportunity to study abroad in Kyoto. I’ve always wanted to travel and experience different cultures, so this honestly is a dream come true. It'll be my first time leaving the U.S., and even though I am a little nervous, I also can't wait to dive into a new environment, meet new people, and learn new things along the way. I look forward to sharing my journey with you all!

Gavin Freese

Program: High School Semester Abroad in Japan

Instagram: @gavinfreese.travel

I’m Gavin, and I'm almost 17. I reside in Minnesota and am passionate about sports, particularly volleyball and wrestling. I'm super excited to be part of the Ambassador program for CIEE. I'll be heading to Kyoto, Japan, for a year of studying abroad during my junior year of high school. I've loved traveling since I was little, always enjoying adventure and new experiences. I've been to Europe and Canada, and I can't wait to explore Japan! I love immersing myself in the local culture and learning as much as I can about the places I visit. I'm thrilled to explore Kyoto's vibrant atmosphere, discover hidden gems off the beaten path, and learn more about Japan's rich history and traditions. I believe traveling internationally is important because there's so much out there to see and do. I can't wait to share my experiences with everyone!

Abbie Thom

Program: High School Semester in Spain

Instagram: @abbie_thom1

Tik Tok: @abbie.thom8

Hello everyone, my name is Abbie Thom and I'm from St. Paul, Minnesota. I look forward to being an ambassador for CIEE this year. Since I was little, I have had a dream of studying abroad to better understand other parts of people's cultures. I have been going to Concordia language villages in their Spanish camp El Lago Del Bosque for quite a while now and it’s always fun meeting my counselors that are all from different Spanish speaking countries. I’m so excited to study abroad and share my unforgettable memories with family and friends I will make in the future. Last year I went to Panama and the culture there was so great to experience, and I'm so excited to learn more about the Spanish culture.

Zoe Valdez

Program: High School Semester in Italy

Instagram: @gozoetravel

Website: gozoetravel.com

Hi everybody! My name is Zoe Valdez. I’m from Charlotte, NC. I am on my way to study abroad in Italy this upcoming school year and complete my High School Senior Year in Pavia, Italy. This will my second trip with CIEE, first time I spent three weeks in South Korea learning about the Culture, Language, Music, KPOP Choreography and met KPOP Multiplatinum Producer Tiger JK. That’s when I knew I was going to be a study abroad student. I love to travel, just got home from touring the American West 22 cities in 23 days, it was AWESOME! Completing high school in Italy is going to be an experience and I want you to follow my journey. I am super excited to broaden my horizons and explore new environments. I love all form of arts, I love to draw and paint, and I love soccer (football in Italy). Can’t wait to see the historic architecture of each city, the paintings and sculptures of legendary artists and learn about their inspirations. I love digital cameras, and I am always snapping photos to keep all the amazing memories I make!

Finley Bilcher

Program: High School Semester in Spain

Instagram: @finjean_19

Hey, my name is Finley, and I am from Teton Valley, Idaho. I am stoked to share that I will be studying abroad in Seville, Spain, for the 2024-2025 school year. Traveling has always been a passion of mine as it broadens my perspective, challenges my understanding, fosters humility, and offers life-changing experiences. I believe that an immersive cross-cultural educational experience through ClEE will profoundly shape my worldview and influence how l engage with my community and other cultures for the rest of my life.

Annabelle Kujawa

Program: High School Semester in the United Kingdom

Instagram: @annabellekujawatravels

Tik Tok: @annabellekujaw4

Hello! My name is Annabelle Kujawa and I’m from St. Louis Missouri! I am so excited to be a CIEE ambassador for the fall trimester! I am staying outside of Brighton, UK. I have always wanted to study abroad, even at a very young age. Cultural diversity, exploring, and meeting new friends are my top three favorite things to do! I’m looking forward to seeing as much of England as I can and take as many pictures as possible! I’ve visited London before and always wanted to go back. I can’t wait to share my experience in England with everyone!