Washington World Fellows
Global Education. Local Ambition.
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.
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.
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.