Evanston student describes year in Germany; school board supports launching exchange program

Remy Woodward, a junior at Evanston High School, spoke to the Unit County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees about her year abroad in Germany on the Congress‑Bundestag Youth Exchange Program and urged the board to support an exchange the district has accepted with a German partner school.

Woodward described her placement in a small town in Thuringia, living with a host family, attending a German school of about 450 students, and completing an intensive four‑week language camp on arrival. She said the program improved her language ability and cultural understanding and that she formed lasting relationships with classmates and host families. “I consider myself very, very lucky,” she told the board.

Woodward said the partner German school proposed sending visiting students to Evanston and that a reciprocal visit could take place after graduation in June (two‑week visits were discussed). Board members asked about timing, funding and host families; Woodward said she will begin recruiting host families and contact local businesses and the Rotary Club for scholarships and support. She and district staff discussed a likely timeline of spring 2026 or June timing for outbound students and indicated September homecoming as an aspirational arrival date for visiting German students, though staff cautioned that the timeline is likely to be 2026 rather than this year.

The board expressed support. No formal action or funding commitment was taken at the meeting; Woodward said she will provide more information about applications and scholarship opportunities for interested students.