Amerie Alverado

West Liberty High School junior, Amerie Alvarado, has been selected as a semi-finalist for the U.S. Department of State’s 2023 National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y). 

Alvarado said she chose to apply to the NSLI-Y program after researching foreign exchange programs that would allow her to travel during summer 2023, but still spend her senior year at West Liberty High School. Applicants choose a language to study, and are matched with a host family in a foreign country for an immersive language and cultural learning experience.

Alvarado said her first choice for language study is Arabic, and if selected, she will receive a foreign exchange placement in Egypt, Morocco, or Jordan. "I thought it would be good to choose a language that has a lot of linguistic similarities to Spanish," she said.

All students participating in the NSLI-Y program receive at least 120 hours of classroom language instruction, according to the program website. The goal of the program is to increase the number of young Americans with the language skills necessary to advance international dialogue, promote economic prosperity and innovation worldwide, and contribute to national security and global stability by building understanding across cultures.

For now, Alvarado is preparing for the next step of her application process, which will include a medical evaluation and interview. Semifinalists will be notified in late April regarding whether or not they have been selected as a finalist.

Congratulations and good luck, Amerie!