Nacel Open Door

Nacel Open Door, Inc. is a non-profit student exchange organization dedicated to international understanding and language education. [1]

Nacel Open Door's purpose statement says that the company believes it is essential for young people to develop a deeper awareness of their role as citizens of the world through direct experience in other cultures and languages. [2]

Affiliations

Nacel Open Door is listed by the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET) [3] and is designated by the U.S. Department of State (formerly the USIA) as a J-1 Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor. [4]

Programs

Academic Year Program

Nacel Open Door offers opportunities for families across the United States to host an international exchange student from one of the more than 35 countries with which Nacel Open Door works. Students live with a host family and attend high school in the host family's community for a semester, academic year or calendar year. [5]

Students and host families receive support from a trained and experienced local representative, who in turn is supported by an area coordinator and the Twin Cities-based National Office.

International Private School Program

The International Private School Program (IPSP) gives private high schools in the United States the opportunity to welcome qualified international students to their campuses. These students stay with host families in the schools' communities and come with the goal of graduating from an American high school. [6]

IPSP students and host families are also supported by local representatives, who in turn are supported by Regional Program Directors and the National Office.

Short-Term Summer Program

Nacel Open Door offers the opportunity for families in the United States to host a student for 4-8 weeks during the summer. These students typically come from France, Spain, Germany and Mexico. [7]

Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange

Through joint funding from the U.S. Congress and the German Bundestag, a total of 25 scholarships are available to graduating high school seniors in the United States to spend one year in Germany. Students live with a host family, participate in a training or school program, and take part in an internship with a German company. [8]

To be eligible to apply, students must [9]:

• be U.S. citizens
• graduate from high school in January or June of the year in which they plan to participate
• be between 18-19 years of age
• have a "B" (3.0) G.P.A.
• be highly recommended by their school
• demonstrate leadership ability and willingness to serve as a young ambassador of the United States

St. Paul Preparatory School

St. Paul Preparatory School (SPP) is the original high school within the Nacel International School System. Established in 2003, SPP is an international high school located in downtown St. Paul, Minn. Students from more than 20 countries, including the United States, attend SPP. SPP is accredited by the North Central Association and has a cooperative partnership with the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul campus. [10]

The Nacel International School System also has branch schools in South Korea, China, France, and the Philippines, as well as a partnership with a school in Poland.

External links

• Nacel Open Door website
• Academic Year Program blog website
• International Private School Program website
• Short-Term Summer Program website
• St. Paul Preparatory School website
• Notre-Dame International High School website
• Council on Standards for International Educational Travel website
• U.S. Department of State website
• Nacel France website