Alumni & Friends

A person with dark hair and a floral shirt plays an acoustic guitar in front of a brick wall with a blue light in the background.

A man with a microphone laughs in the foreground, while a woman smiles beside him, with a blurred background of people and windows.

Three people stand in the foreground with a blurred background of a modern building with large windows.

Two women in aprons smile as they prepare pastries on a baking sheet in the foreground, with a bright, window-lit room in the background.

Our Community

Since embarking on our first transatlantic journey in 1964, SYA has inspired thousands of young people to become thoughtful global citizens. Through immersive experiences that foster cross-cultural understanding, empathy, and resilience, students discover the confidence to navigate unfamiliar places and see the world through new perspectives.

Our legacy is sustained by the people who make SYA extraordinary. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and families form a global community united by curiosity, cultural exchange, and a shared belief in the transformative power of learning across borders. The connections forged through SYA extend far beyond our campuses, creating a lifelong network of engagement and support.

Today, more than 9,000 alumni are making an impact in 77 countries and counting. Their leadership, curiosity, and commitment to understanding others reflect the enduring influence of an SYA education, and the global community they continue to strengthen.

Home to me has always been where friends are, and SYA taught me I could find friendship in anyone, anywhere — turning the world into home!Yunus Yildirim IT'23

You are SYA

SYA's future is shaped by the collective commitment of its community. Through engagement, volunteerism, and philanthropy, alumni, families, and friends help ensure that future generations of students can experience the same life-changing opportunities.

Attend Events

Reconnect with classmates, meet fellow SYAers, and celebrate the moments that bring our community together. From reunions and regional gatherings to virtual conversations, there's always a reason to celebrate.

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Stay Connected

Keep your contact information up to date, share your latest news, and discover opportunities to get involved. Whether you're volunteering, attending events, or simply staying in touch, every connection helps strengthen the SYA network.

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Building the Future Together

SYA is built on the generosity of our community. For generations, alumni, parents, and friends have invested in the transformative power of our mission and in the students who bring it to life. We know the value of looking at the world from a different point of view; the importance of curiosity and dialogue; and how sharing languages, traditions, art, music and food deepens our understanding of one another.

Your support can have a powerful impact on the lives of students across our campuses.

Explore the ways you can make an immediate difference or create a lasting legacy for SYA and the students whose lives it transforms.

SYA Fund

Giving annually to the SYA Fund is a meaningful way to impact day-to-day life on campus and make an immediate difference in the lives our students and educators.

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Kaleidoscope Campaign

We aim to raise $6 million to invest in the future of SYA and the life-changing experiences that define it. Each gift creates immersive opportunities for students, supports the growth of our exceptional faculty, and sustains the vibrancy of our campuses. Together, we are ensuring that future generations of SYAers continue to see the world in new ways.

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