Tom's View from 30,000 Feet

A Revolution Reconsidered — SYA France and the Meaning of 250 Years

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, the familiar story of 1776 begins to shift, especially when encountered from across the Atlantic.

At SYA France, that shift became the focus of a months-long exploration culminating in the campus’s May 18 Freedom 250 France celebration — a memorable evening honoring 250 years of Franco-American friendship and shared history.

Part of a nationwide series of cultural, academic, and diplomatic initiatives taking place throughout France, Freedom 250 France examines not only the legacy of the American Revolution, but the evolving relationship between France and the United States.

“The Franco-American partnership is not limited to history,” SYA France Resident Director Mina Qadir reflected during the event. “It is very much alive, constantly evolving, and expressed through dialogue, exchange, and collaboration.”

For SYA France students, the celebration was not simply something to attend, but something to create.

From January through May, students prepared a series of historical, linguistic, and cultural workshops conducted entirely in French through the Experiential French Language course. Their work asked them to move beyond familiar narratives of the American Revolution and reconsider the relationship between France and the United States as something more layered, interconnected, and continuously evolving.

Students often arrive with a clear storyline. What changes here is not just what they learn, but how they begin to question the story they thought they knew.

That questioning shaped the evening itself.

Student musicians opened the celebration with moving performances of both the French and American national anthems, setting the tone for an event centered on reflection, exchange, and shared history. Throughout the evening, guests moved through four student-led workshops designed to examine Franco-American relations from multiple perspectives.

In the Art and History workshops, students curated portraits and presentations highlighting figures connected to Franco-American friendship, from the American Revolution through the global conflicts of the 20th century. Others explored the artistic and architectural dialogue between the two countries across centuries.

Language and Culture workshops invited guests into interactive activities examining Franco-American exchange through both historical and contemporary lenses, while another student group produced a presentation video showcasing life at SYA France and the school’s integration into Rennes and the surrounding community.

The workshops were thoughtfully designed and confidently led, with students guiding guests entirely in French while synthesizing months of interdisciplinary work.

“They are not simply studying this friendship,” Mina said. “They are building it.”

Moments like this celebration — bringing together students, faculty, staff, host families, civic leaders, alumni from different generations, and diplomatic representatives — offered students the opportunity to see those connections unfold in real time. Alumni presence throughout the evening reflected SYA France’s longstanding place in Rennes and the enduring bonds formed through the program across decades.

The school was especially honored to welcome Emily Cintora, who delivered remarks highlighting the enduring relationship between France and the United States and the importance of cultural and educational exchange in strengthening that partnership for future generations.

“By immersing yourselves in French language, culture, and daily life, you become ambassadors — building bridges of understanding that will endure long after you return home,” Consul Cintora told students during the evening’s program.

As Mina reflected during the evening’s remarks, “the strength of this relationship rests not only on a shared past, but also on our continued commitment to understanding one another, discovering one another, and working together.”

Consul Cintora echoed that sentiment in looking toward the future of the partnership: “As we look toward the next 250 years of Franco-American friendship, I am proud to see that young people like you will carry forward the legacy of cooperation, innovation, and purpose that has defined our partnership.”

In the end, the evening’s success was measured not only by the performances, presentations, or workshops themselves, but by the confidence and thoughtfulness students brought to them. Through language, inquiry, and lived experience, students engaged with the Franco-American relationship not as a static historical idea, but as something active, human, and ongoing.

And in that spirit, Freedom 250 France at SYA became more than a commemoration of the past. It became an opportunity for students to participate in the continuing conversation between two cultures — one shaped as much by exchange and curiosity as by history itself.

Between Here and There: Fluency Begins When You Leave Your Seat

Across our campuses, students step beyond the classroom and into the daily life of the communities around them: joining local activities, engaging with peers to explore the area and spending extended time with their host families. These moments of participation are where language moves beyond vocabulary lists and grammar exercises and instead becomes a living tool for understanding the world.

One key way this happens is through SYA exchanges with local high schools, where students spend a day immersed in the life of a local peer. They arrive not as observers. Not as visitors. But as participants: attending new classes, meeting classmates and experiencing the routines of a different school culture.

There is something transformative about borrowing another person’s routine. It requires humility. It demands listening. It asks students to release the comfort of knowing exactly how things work and embrace the vulnerability of not knowing.

On our Spain campus, exchanges with local schools began more than two decades ago and have evolved over time. Today, the program Un día aquí, un día allí (One day here, one day there) connects SYA Spain with schools across Zaragoza, pairing our students with Spanish peers for a simple but powerful exchange — one day in each other’s school.

For SYA students, the experience offers a chance to step beyond the natural comfort of their cohort. It is another step outside the ‘bubble’ of being mainly with American students.

That shift matters.

Students gain insight into the rhythms of another educational system, from different schedules and lunch routines to larger classes and more lecture-based instruction. In this setting, they begin to understand schooling not simply as a structure, but as a cultural expression shaped by different traditions and expectations.

Perhaps the most meaningful changes occur socially. “Sometimes it is the first time they spend so much time with local students their own age,” said SYA Spain’s Elena Lain, coordinator of the Un día aquí, un día allí program on our Zaragoza campus. When those connections take hold, they often extend beyond the school day leading to friendships, shared plans in the city and deeper integration into life in Zaragoza.

Those first steps can require courage. “Some students are a little nervous at first,” she continued, “because it is a real challenge to go to a school where you don’t know the students and you’re not sure whether you will fully understand the language.”

Yet that uncertainty is precisely where growth begins.

Importantly, the exchange flows in both directions. Local students who visit our SYA campuses gain the opportunity to practice English directly with native speakers, making the program a genuine exchange rather than simple observation. Students learn cultural situations from peers their own age and pick up new colloquial expressions. In addition, it changes their intonation when speaking and improves confidence in communicating, as language becomes a necessary tool for connecting and building relationships.

In the end, our campus-based exchange programs, like Un día aquí, un día allí, remind us that understanding another culture rarely arrives through explanation alone.

And in that space — between here and there — growth happens.

Q&A with Andrew Silberman ES'23

How did that one day turn into an ongoing friendship?
I happened to be one of the first people to participate in the Un día aquí, un día allí  program for my year, so I was still adjusting to life in Spain when my turn came. My partner for the program, Edu, came to SYA first, and we immediately hit it off. We realized we shared a lot of similar hobbies and interests such as tennis, traveling and politics. The following day, I accompanied Edu to a day of class at his high school where I got to meet his friend group. They took me out for lunch at Burger King (not very Spanish!) after classes ended, and we spent a few hours hanging out and getting to know each other. Later that night, Edu and his friends texted me, and we made plans to see each other again. Eventually, we were hanging out multiple times a week, and I had found a solid place within the group. Edu and his friends took me in and became a crucial support system for me as I navigated a new country at seventeen, and for that I will be forever thankful. 

What have you learned about each other’s lives and cultures since staying in touch?
One of the best parts about having a Spanish friend group is the infinite amount of cultural and language exchange that takes place. At first, it was intimidating being the only American in a setting of Spaniards around my age. I often struggled to keep up with conversations as they were rapid and included a lot of slang. I made my best effort to listen actively and didn’t hesitate to ask questions if I didn’t understand. Ultimately, my efforts paid off, and I was able to attain a level of Spanish that allowed me to keep up with my friends without any issue. Edu also happens to have a very high level of English, so ever since we met, our conversations have always consisted of a mix between Spanish and English. We both benefit immensely from a language standpoint as we are constantly learning from one another in our target languages. Edu even came to visit me in the US this summer to learn more about my culture and work on his English. It was such a unique experience to “reverse our roles” from Spain and see my country through Edu’s perspective as a Spaniard. To this day, I am still very close friends with Edu and the group. Every time that I have returned to SYA Spain, I always say thank you to Elena Lain for helping facilitate this program and for pairing me with Edu. I truly could have never imagined the impact it would have on my life over three years later, and I’m so grateful to have had this opportunity.

Learning in the Living Classroom

At SYA, we recognize that learning is not confined to a classroom, and in fact some of the most important moments happen when students are immersed in the culture and communities around them.

Earlier this month at SYA Italy, we did what we often do on our programs: we moved the school to Naples.

We’re intentional about that phrasing — moved the school. It’s not a trip, and it’s certainly not a vacation. The academic program continues in a different setting. Schedules, assignments and expectations all travel with the students. Resident Director Pat Scanlon calls this the “Living Classroom.” The city becomes the text. The streets, museums, schools and neighborhoods become the primary sources. Students aren’t just learning about Italy; they’re learning in it.

Starting on the bus en route to Naples, teachers take a metaphorical back seat (and maybe also a literal one) so that students can take the microphone to present history lessons and share their expectations about what they will be seeing and experiencing as a group.

In Naples, students explored the theme “The Identity of Naples.” That meant observing daily life, asking questions, noticing patterns and gathering insights from what they experienced firsthand. Art history students recorded a video showcasing what they had learned about Pompeii in situ (without reading any notes!) including describing the architecture of the preserved buildings and explaining the purpose of the raised stones in the streets.

In addition to the “schoolwork,” students encountered the culture on informal walkabouts. On one, they found themselves lined up on the street to drink limonata a cosce aperte from a street vendor. On another they explored the magical Santa Chiara Cloister after enjoying Neapolitan coffee and sfogliatella. And, of course, they couldn’t miss touching the nose of the Busto di Pulcinella for a little luck.

This kind of learning asks something more of students. It asks them to be attentive. To be thoughtful. To make good choices. It also asks them to practice independence while staying aware of one another and their surroundings — an important balance in any city, anywhere in the world.

For me, this has always been central to what SYA does best. We care deeply about academic rigor, but we also believe that knowledge becomes more powerful when students apply it in real situations. A conversation in class, around the host family table, or in a café about culture changes once you’ve experienced that culture directly. Language becomes more meaningful when it’s the tool you rely on to communicate. Independence grows when students learn to navigate unfamiliar settings responsibly.

These are the moments students remember years later. Not just because they were extraordinary trips, but because they were formative experiences that quietly reshaped how they see themselves: more capable and more ready to step into unfamiliar places with curiosity and confidence.

When we say we move the school, what we really mean is that learning travels with the students. And in many ways, that’s the point: helping them discover that the world itself can be a classroom, long after their SYA year ends.

Why Presence Still Matters: SYA’s Approach to Cell Phones

From the very beginning — the first SYA group that sailed to Barcelona in 1964 — our founder understood something essential about learning. Language is not acquired from a distance. Real immersion, Clark Vaughan knew, meant diving headfirst into culture, not just skimming the surface through “repeat after me” lessons. It is learned by listening closely, speaking often and being fully present in the life of a place.

For decades, that belief guided our work. Today, it continues to do so, even as the world our students inhabit has changed dramatically.

In recent years, we have come to recognize that ubiquitous cell phone use during the school day compromises the very immersion that sits at the heart of the SYA experience. Phones tether students not only to devices, but to lives elsewhere: back home, online and increasingly removed from the language, culture and community unfolding right in front of them.

This realization prompted SYA to update its cell phone policy across campuses. The intention is simple, even if the adjustment can feel challenging: to create space for deeper engagement and fuller participation in daily life abroad. And it starts nearly from day one. Student groups are given paper maps to orient themselves in their new city, learning how to navigate without the use of a phone.

We are not alone in this way of thinking. A recent essay in The Atlantic penned by SYA trustee Russell Shaw, head of Georgetown Day School, makes a compelling case for why his school has chosen to ban phones during the school day. Drawing on both research and lived experience, he describes how constant phone access distracts students, isolates them from one another, and undermines the development of critical thinking and resilience.

While SYA’s context is unique, the concerns resonate deeply with our mission. We aim to cultivate critical and creative thinkers, young people with intercultural competence, independence and an understanding of both self and others. These capacities do not flourish in constant partial attention. They require sustained focus and the willingness to sit with complexity — all of which are diminished when attention is continually pulled toward a screen.

Under SYA’s policy, students leave their phones in a designated space during the school day, retrieving them only when leaving campus. While stored, phones are silenced. This approach asks students to manage their academic and social lives without the constant presence of a device: encouraging face-to-face interaction, attentiveness in class and deeper engagement with faculty and peers.

It is important to be clear: we recognize that responsible phone use abroad can offer both convenience and security. Phones are not the enemy. Excessive reliance on them, however, dilutes the experience of living in another culture, just as excessive contact with home can make it harder to fully inhabit life elsewhere. Many SYA students discover, as generations before them did, that regular but limited contact with family and friends back home strikes a healthy balance between connection and independence.

The Resident Directors and I monitor this policy closely. What we are seeing affirms our instincts: more conversation in hallways, greater presence in classrooms and students who are more attentive to one another and to their surroundings. “Putting cell phones away during the day has had an incredibly positive and noticeable effect on our school culture,” said SYA Italy Resident Director Pat Scanlon. “Though putting our phones aside isn't an easy habit to develop for any of us, we are nevertheless feeling more interaction with one another, developing more positive relationships and being able to focus on the existing and stimulating world we inhabit."

From 30,000 feet, this policy is not about restriction for its own sake. It is about protecting something increasingly rare and increasingly valuable: the ability to be fully present. In a world that constantly competes for our attention, SYA remains committed to creating an environment where students can listen deeply, speak bravely and learn not just a language, but a way of being in the world.

That commitment has guided us for more than sixty years. It continues to guide us now.

Bridging Worlds

December has a way of bringing worlds together. For SYA students, the holiday season often marks the first time they feel the pull of home while being fully rooted in another culture. Traditions overlap, expectations shift and students find themselves living in the in-between … discovering that belonging doesn’t have to be singular.

Over the years, I’ve come to believe this is one of the most meaningful moments of an SYA year. Students are no longer simply observing another culture; they are learning how to carry their own traditions while making space for new ones. Cultural understanding becomes personal, lived and deeply human.

That spirit was on full display recently at SYA France, where our students spent a day at the Dinard Lycée Hôtelier, a vocational high school on the north coast of Brittany. Together, students from both schools prepared and shared a Thanksgiving feast — French culinary students leading the way in the kitchen, while SYA students introduced the history and meaning behind the holiday. They set tables side by side and exchanged stories about their states, cities and family traditions.

What made the day so meaningful wasn’t the meal itself but the exchange. In the spring, the experience will come full circle when SYA France becomes host in Rennes for these same students from the Dinard Lycée Hôtelier for a day of workshops, games and an architectural tour led by our students. It’s a reminder that cultural learning is strongest when it moves in both directions.

This midpoint of the year also invites reflection. We see growth in students’ confidence, language skills and independence, alongside the challenges that come with deeper immersion. Homesickness can surface. Differences feel sharper. But these moments are not setbacks but signs that students are engaging honestly with the world around them.

In a time when it can feel easier to smooth over differences or retreat into what’s familiar, SYA asks something more courageous and bold: to celebrate difference, to listen across it and to build connection through it. As our students navigate the holidays abroad, they are learning how to bridge worlds; a skill that will serve them long after the decorations come down and their year continues.

Gratitude of Global Proportions 

As we approach the end of the fall term, I’m reminded of the season we’re entering — a time to pause, reflect and give thanks. I begin this reflection with thanks to … 

• Current students: thank you for meeting each day with curiosity and courage. 

• Host families: thank you for opening your homes and hearts, and for becoming the daily teachers of culture, nuance and belonging. 

• Faculty and staff: thank you for your unwavering commitment to experiential, place-based learning. 

• Alumni, parents and supporters: thank you for sustaining an educational model the world needs now more than ever. 

• And, thank you to all the SYAers who have shared their stories and opened their hearts to me over the last decade. 

As I have traveled worldwide during the SYA Moments Tour, city after city, I learn stories that show how SYA stays with people — shaping values, relationships and a lifelong sense of responsibility to others. These are not just travel memories; they are the foundations of empathy. 

Most recently, at an event on the SYA Moments Tour, a guest shared a story that deeply moved me. Her child had studied with SYA in Spain in the mid-1990s, gone on to college, and very sadly passed away from a serious illness not long after. As she spoke, her voice carried both grief and immense pride. 

She recounted how, during her child’s final days, two close friends from SYA flew across the country to be at the bedside. They offered care, dignity and unwavering presence — sharing memories, telling stories and ensuring their friend never felt alone. She was profoundly struck by their compassion and maturity, qualities she felt were shaped in part by their year abroad. Hearing her speak with such gratitude reminded me that SYA doesn’t just teach language or global awareness. It nurtures empathy that endures. 

One of those former SYA students is now a parent, and his child is studying with us in Spain. When I visited Zaragoza this fall and spoke with the students, their reflections made it immediately clear that the lessons of empathy, curiosity and global responsibility continue to thrive on our campuses.  

Our teams abroad, from Resident Directors to faculty and staff to host families, work tirelessly to ensure each student feels supported, seen and inspired. Their leadership transforms each SYA campus into a true home abroad, a place where learning extends far beyond the classroom, where challenges become catalysts for growth, and where every moment, no matter how small, contributes to a broader sense of self and world. 

Thank you to everyone who brings energy, curiosity and care to SYA — and to all who believe in our mission and help strengthen this community. Your commitment to learning, exploration and global connection is what makes SYA extraordinary.  

With appreciation, 
Tom 

SAY SYA: Using Your Voice to Shape the Next Generation of Global Citizens

Not long after I began my role at SYA, my computer kept autocorrecting “SYA” into “say.” At first it was amusing, but over time it became my mantra: SAY SYA. Because if we want the world to understand the impact of this extraordinary program, we need to talk about it — clearly, loudly and often.

When you mention your experience, I ask that you don’t just say you studied abroad during high school or you spent a year in Spain or a semester in China. Say SYA. Say School Year Abroad. Say that you were part of a program designed to transform high schoolers into citizens of the world. That distinction matters — for you, for prospective students and families and for the enduring strength and validity of SYA’s mission.

We all know the power of this unique experience. The challenge now is ensuring others hear about it. Awareness doesn’t just happen through advertising or brochures — it happens when one person shares their story with another. Word of mouth has always been SYA’s most powerful tool.

In addition to the never-ending work of our Admissions team — who visit more than 150 schools each year to introduce students to SYA — many families first learn about us through alumni, parents or teachers in their own communities. It might be a casual conversation at a school event or even in the most unexpected places.

Over the years, I’ve heard countless stories of SYAers recognizing each other because they indeed say SYA. Two alums, Doug Letheren FR’02 and Scott Schang FR’83, met at a Buddhist monastery in rural Canada and soon realized they had both studied in Rennes — instantly transforming strangers into old friends. A resume featuring School Year Abroad caught the eye of then–Ambassador to France Charles Rivkin FR’79 FRS'11P, leading to the hire of Daniel Dozier FR’00 as Chief of Staff to the U.S. Ambassador’s Residence in Paris. And then there was the serendipitous hot air balloon ride in Burma, when Corina Noel Piedrahita FR’80 struck up a conversation that led to a future student, Lisa Weiss ES’13, discovering the program. None of these moments were planned — but each began because someone chose to say SYA.

That’s how this mission continues: one story, one connection, one shared memory at a time. Here’s how you can help amplify the message:

• Alumni and faculty: add SYA to your professional story. Include School Year Abroad in your LinkedIn profile, your résumé or your bio — not just as a line under “education” or "job," but as an experience that shaped how you see the world. It’s a conversation starter, and you never know who it might inspire.
• Share your SYA moments online. A recent Instagram post by alumna Anna Ansari CN’99, who shared her story of dumpling-making and cultural connection, reminded us how meaningful these glimpses are. When you post about SYA — a memory, a photo, or a reflection — you not only celebrate your own journey but invite others to imagine theirs.
• Connect us to a school. If you work in education or know someone who does, help us open doors. Introduce SYA to a high school teacher, a head of school or others in a school community who might help the next student begin their own global adventure. (See below.)

In the months ahead, I invite you to use your voice to champion SYA’s story. Talk about your experience — in conversations, on social media, at work and in your community. Encourage families to explore the possibilities SYA offers. Inspire students to dream bigger about what high school can be. Every story shared, every mention, every SAY SYA moment helps build a movement — one that ensures the next generation experiences the same discovery, connection and transformation that shaped over 9,200 alums.

Because when you SAY SYA, you’re not just telling your story — you’re helping a future student write theirs.
 

How to Use Your Voice to SAY SYA

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Whether one of our Member Schools, independent or public school, if you can help with opening a door, making a connection or even posting a flyer on the school's information board, please fill out this form.

Share SYA's website
Specifically the Admissions page or how prospective students can meet the team in person or online through an info session.  The application for full year, fall or spring semester and summer program are all on the same application. 

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When I think about the start of every SYA year I’m reminded that exploration isn’t about distance — it’s about perspective. Students landed in Spain, Italy or France only a few weeks ago but the ground shifted immediately. They stepped outside their comfort zones and in those first days the world started to open up in ways both exhilarating and overwhelming.

The Immersion Unit is where the journey truly begins. Over the past decade we’ve doubled down on making it intentionally place-based and experiential, and yet, the heart of it remains the same: supporting students as they build their language skills, form community and adapt to a new culture. Curiosity helps break down barriers, sparks connections with host families and opens doors to new friendships that would be impossible without the willingness to ask questions, take risks, fail and try again.

Let me paint a picture of what that first day looks like in Spain, though a similar rhythm unfolds in Italy and France.

• 7:30 a.m. A team from SYA Spain are at the Madrid airport, gathering sleepy but buzzing students from different flights.
• 10:00 a.m. The charter bus is rolling north. There’s a snack stop along the way and while we suggest a nap, most students are too keyed up to rest.
• 2:00 p.m. We arrive in Zaragoza at a city park, greeted by the rest of our faculty and staff. Lunch is waiting, introductions begin and the first bonds form over a simple meal and conversations.
• 4:30 p.m. Host families arrive. The moment is always filled with nerves, hugs and dos besos, and the start of relationships that often last a lifetime.
• Next morning students walk through the doors of their new school. The Immersion Unit kicks off: field study in the city; safety briefings; first attempts at navigating in Spanish; and conversations about expectations, community and what a good SYA experience can look like.

Across campuses those first weeks are intentionally designed to mix guidance with independence. In Italy that means walking Viterbo together in “The Living Campus,” carving out school routines that allow students free afternoons to be with host families; exploring opportunities for extracurriculars; and gathering students, faculty and host families at Lago di Bolsena for the annual picnic under the September sun. In France the first victories come when a student uses their bus pass successfully or asks a local for directions in French. Curiosity drives these moments. Students discover how to move through a city, test their words with shopkeepers and slowly realize that what once felt foreign is becoming familiar. The faculty emphasize safety, communication and community values while also weaving in field study and moments of joy — like this year’s crossing of the bay at Mont Saint-Michel where students learned to (literally) find their footing together.

The emotions in these first weeks run the gamut: nerves, wonder, exhaustion and breakthroughs. But as I’ve seen year after year, by the end of the Immersion Unit the transformation is already visible. Students stand a little taller, their confidence grows and the community feels both grounded and full of anticipation for the months ahead.

This is the gift of SYA: that the anxious first hellos at the airport quickly become the foundations for lasting friendships, deeper learning and a broader perspective on the world. Curiosity, more than anything else, helps break down the walls between us.

As I begin my final year as President of SYA, I’ve been thinking back over the hundreds of conversations I’ve had during my decade of encountering SYAers throughout the globe. Time and again, one simple question has opened the door to laughter, nostalgia and conversation: “What was your SYA Moment?” 

My first real SYA Moment as SYA President was during the 50th anniversary of SYA France, when we were at l’Opéra de Rennes for the big celebration. A cluster of alumni was gathered around an elderly couple, who I came to learn were host parents, Monsieur and Madame LeFevre. In Madame LeFevre's, hand she held a handwritten list of all the students she had hosted over the years, many whom were gathered around her that night. While I knew from years of being involved with SYA that it can be life changing, it was the first time I truly comprehended the profound impact SYA has not only on students, but on the whole community. 

From alumni I have heard stories about language faux pas that became inside jokes with host families, dreaming in their host language for the first time, getting hopelessly lost and somehow finding the way back, among many others. Some have shared that it’s not a singular defining moment but a collection of quieter moments – finally feeling at home abroad, savoring entire Sunday afternoons with the extended host family, the smile on the barista’s face when they entered the café. (There are some SYA Moments, especially from the earlier years, that can’t be shared here … ) 

During my tenure, I have had many more SYA Moments – many of them reaffirming the important mission of SYA in the world, and a few that, while challenging, taught me and SYA a lot about ourselves and our values. The Covid-19 pandemic is the most obvious example of that. It was all about letting go of expectations, embracing creativity and leaning on community as we all navigated that time together. Thankfully, SYA came out stronger than before. 

Two of my more recent SYA Moments include SYA’s 60th Anniversary in Spain, where nearly 200 alumni, parents, faculty and friends gathered over five days in Barcelona and Zaragoza to celebrate our shared history. The second, the Conference on Teaching and Learning Abroad, where faculty from our three campuses gathered in Viterbo, Italy, for two days of intensive professional development. These two moments, for me, showcase the heart of SYA – the lifelong relationships and love of adventure, and the caring people who nurture that experience each year. 

This year marks another moment in SYA’s history and leadership. We welcomed a new chair of the board, Taylor Ruggles ES’85, and several new trustees whose insight, commitment and fresh perspectives will help guide SYA into the next chapter of our global mission. The trustees also had the task of finding SYA’s next President and led a thoughtful search process, leading to the appointment of Sally Mingarelli as SYA’s fourth president. She will officially assume the role on July 1, 2026. I am excited to introduce Sally to this incredible community, where I am certain she will make many SYA Moments of her own. Just before she starts, in April 2026, we will celebrate 25 years of SYA Italy and a remarkable tenure of SYA’s longest serving Resident Director, Pat Scanlon, as he also prepares to retire. 

In September, I’ll begin the SYA Moments Tour with stops in London and across the U.S., reconnecting with alumni, parents and friends of SYA. I’m eager to hear your stories, share in your memories and celebrate the many ways SYA continues to change lives. 

This final year will be a journey of its own. Over the next two weeks, students will be stepping off planes into experiences that will shape them for a lifetime — when they, too, will discover their own SYA Moment.