Dutch Fork High School student elected to participate in German Summer Study Program

For Immediate Release – February 12, 2026

Dutch Fork High School student elected to participate in German Summer Study Program

IRMO – Dutch Fork High School student Lydia Jones has been selected by the American Association of German Teachers to participate in a German Summer Study Program for High School Students.  The program is sponsored in cooperation with the German government's Pedagogical Exchange Service and it is very competitive. Jones was chosen for a spot in the program from among hundreds of applicants from all over the United States. 

The German Summer Study Program for High School Students provides a three-week homestay and school experience. Students attend classes at a Gesamtschule or Gymnasium (high school), live with the host family of a sibling who attends the school, visit regional attractions, and experience the German language and culture firsthand. This summer, the program will be in Gera, Germany. 

With a population of 93,000, it is the largest city in the Vogtland region of Thuringia and the third largest city within the state. Birthplace of famous German painter Otto Dix, Gera is also home to several museums, one of the biggest Renaissance town halls in Germany, the Höhler cellar system, and a botanical garden. The host school, the Staatliche Integrierte Gesamtschule (IGS) Gera, just celebrated its 30th anniversary and is looking forward to welcoming students from the United States.

“Lydia is in her second year of German here at Dutch Fork,” Dutch Fork High German teacher Frau Karla Bell said. “She is an excellent student who is open to new experiences and enjoys learning about culture and language. Students who participate in exchange programs return to us with enhanced language proficiency, increased self-confidence, improved adaptability, and a broader global perspective. They gain valuable intercultural skills, along with a widened international network of friends and mentors.”

###