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Morning Star Rotary offers local and international experiential learning and leadership opportunities for rising 8th graders through High School Seniors.
Take a look! Contact Jennifer Cunningham, Youth Programs Coordinator, to learn more.

Long-term International Exchanges
Who: Students 15-19 years old from Lehigh Valley Schools
What: Local Rotary clubs sponsor students to live abroad, and those clubs welcome a student from abroad. The local Rotary club recruits families to host students in their homes for 3-10 months, and club members invite international students to holiday dinners, American experiences, family gatherings, etc. 
When: School year - Students depart late summer, return early summer. Applications are available in mid-October and due December 1.
Where: International - exact locations determined by Rotary International and can vary year to year
Cost: The outbound students’ families pay travel costs including flights, passports, required vaccinations, and spending money. The host families cover food and other reasonable expenses for their international guest.

More info:www.rotary.org/en/our-programs/youth-exchanges & www.exchangestudent.org/high-school-abroad/
 

Short-term International Exchanges (new priority for  2025)

About short term Rotary Youth Exchange
Who: Students 15-19 years old
What: Families host an international high school student in the summer for a few days to several weeks, then their high school student stays with that child’s family for a few days to several weeks.
When: Summer, applications are available in mid-October and due December 1.
Where: International - exact locations determined by how many families around the world apply!
Cost: Host families pay costs for the visiting student, and families pay travel costs including flights, passports, required vaccinations, etc. for their own student.

Academic Merit Scholarships

Bethlehem Foundation Logo
Who: Seniors at Freedom High School
What: Two $1,000 awards, offered through the Bethlehem Education Foundation
When: Awarded in May, applications due early April
Where: Any accredited two or four year institution

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards - Camp Neidig

Camp Neidig 2024
Who: Rising high school seniors
What: A 3.5 day leadership experience
When: Camp is mid-June, applications due May 1
Where: Camp Manatawny in Douglassville, PA
Cost: Zero for the student or school - $300 per student for Rotary
or

STEM-Youth Explorer Academy (STEM-YEA)
Who: Rising 8th graders
What: A four-day, three-night residential STEM experience for rising 8th graders who would not ordinarily have access to STEM enrichment activities. Curriculum is written by the SETI Institute (a non- profit contractor for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.)
When: mid-July
Where: Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA

Cost: Zero to the student or school - $400 per student for Morning Star Rotary

More info: stemyea.com

The 4-Way Test Speech Contest - in partnership with the Bethlehem Rotary Club
Who: High school students, grades 9 through 12 are eligible to participate
What: 5-7 minute speeches about any topic, but relating to Rotary International’s 4-Way Test
When: First contest at local clubs in March, winner advances to regional contest in April, winner advances to final contest at District Conference, end-April
Where: Varies
Cost: Zero to the student or school - $200 per Rotary Club; prizes given to winners at various stages
 

Interact (new priority for 2025 or 2026)
Who: High School Freshman through Seniors
What: Interact clubs bring together young people ages 12-18 to develop leadership skills while discovering the power of Service Above Self. There is a Club at Liberty sponsored by the Bethlehem Rotary Club, and we are currently gauging interest from youth programs, schoolteachers, and district administrators at other high schools as well. 
When: Year-round, mostly during the academic school year
Where: In schools, at community centers, on zoom
Cost: TBD

More info: https://www.rotary.org/en/get-involved/interact-clubs