For the fourth year in a row, the Russian American Foundation has been selected for the highly prestigious NSLI FOR YOUTH funded by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in cooperation with American Councils for International Education. This summer, RAF is pleased to design and implement the 2013 NSLI FOR YOUTH Russian Language & Culture RAF and Bolshoi Way Moscow Summer Intensive.
Building on its highly successful 2010, 2011, and 2012 programs, this award allows RAF to send fifteen pre-professional ballet students, selected from a national pool, on an all-expense-paid six-week summer educational and pre-professional program to Moscow, which will combine Russian-language instruction, cultural immersion, and ballet training with Master Teachers of Moscow’s Bolshoi Ballet Academy.The tentative dates for our 2013 program are July 13 – August 24.
For those selected to participate, the NSLI FOR YOUTH Moscow Summer Intensive will start immediately after the end of the first BBASI 3-week session in New York. The NSLI FOR YOUTH program is meant to recognize student’s academic merit and interest in the Russian language and culture. No prior language experience is necessary to be considered. The Program will be designed to give a full language and cultural immersion, in addition to the high quality ballet training students expect from RAF’s partnership with the Bolshoi Ballet Academy.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
An applicant MUST be:
- A U.S. Citizen
- Enrolled in High School at the time of the application
- 15-18 years of age at start of program (birth date between July 15, 1994 and June 10, 1998)
- Have a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
- Not an immediate family member of an employee of the U.S. Department of State who works in the Youth Programs Division of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs or an employee at a NSLI-Y administering organization whose duties involve the NSLI-Y program
- Have not previously traveled outside the U.S. on any Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of State sponsored exchange program
- Have not participated in an NSLI-Y summer program previously
Program Specific Requirements:
- Participants must be at a novice-level in Russian language study
- Participants can not have dual U.S. – Russian citizenship, nor have been born in Russia
- Enrolled in the 2013 New York Bolshoi Ballet Academy Summer Intensive
- By applying to RAF’s NSLI-Y Bolshoi Program, all participants and their families acknowledge and agree to abide by laws, rules, and regulations of the United States, the NSLI-Y Program, and RAF. Additionally, by applying to RAF’s NSLI-Y Bolshoi Program, all participants and their families acknowledge and agree to abide by the Russian Federation’s, the Academy’s, and Foreign Hosts laws, rules, and regulations in all respects.
For a comprehensive list of all NSLI FOR YOUTH program requirements, please visit their website, which can be found here.
SELECTION PROCESS:
1) Applicant must be enrolled in the 2013 New York Bolshoi Ballet Academy Summer Intensive to participate (if you are already enrolled in the 6-week session and are selected as a Finalist, you will be reimbursed for the final 3-week session).
2) Applicant is required to submit in a timely manner all necessary documents. Please download the Q&A FORM and the APPLICATION FORM for complete instructions. Read both from start to finish before filling out the application form. You will need to complete the Application Form in print and online. The online application form can be found here.
3) RAF must receive all forms in the office by FRIDAY, MARCH 22nd, 2013.
4)RAF selection Committee will review all applications, conduct phone and/or personal interviews with semi-finalists and will make final determinations by April 26th, 2013 Determinations will be made based on a point system in the following areas: a) exhibited interest in Russian language and Russian culture, b) academic excellence, and c) demonstrated maturity. As RAF is responsible to the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, to make sure that each participant excels and meets the goals of the Program, the selection Committee reserves the right to award extra points to applicants who have demonstrated maturity and dedication during the past enrollment in RAF’s Bolshoi Ballet Academy Summer Intensive Program. However, all interested and registered students for the 2013 Bolshoi Ballet Academy Summer Intensive Program are encouraged to apply for the NSLI FOR YOUTH program.
Questions regarding the NSLI-Y Program can be directed to Christine Jacobson at cjacobson@russianamericanfoundation.org or by phone at 212-687-6118 ex. 201
To read past participants’ testimonials, click on any of the following students’ names: Kelsey, Mable,Alexis, Laurie, Anna Corinne, Haley. Photos from the NSLI-Y 2012 program can be viewed here.
U.S. AMBASSADOR MCFAUL: “I can’t stress enough how important these exchanges are in building a strong relationship between our countries… These exchanges provide academic opportunities for students in all fields. But indirectly, they also help to undermine stereotypes. Nothing is worse for scientific advance, business development, or international cooperation than assumptions based on false impressions or factual inaccuracies. Greater engagement and understanding does not always lead to common interests or shared values. But interaction between our societies at least reduces the probability of disagreements based on misperceptions and increases the opportunities of collaboration between individuals, companies, non-governmental organizations, universities, and governments.”