Academic Year in America (AYA) allows high school-age foreign exchange students to stay with host families all over the United States, including Todd County.
AYA Local Coordinator Ashley Frederickson says there is a need for host families at the moment as there are currently more international students coming to study than available families. She is hoping to find four more families for students staying for a full academic year this coming school year and is looking in Todd, Trigg and Christian Counties as well Montgomery County in Clarksville, Tennessee.
Frederickson says host families come in all shapes and sizes.
Joyce Edwards of Trenton, Kentucky and her husband began hosting international students after the pandemic and have opened their home to three students throughout the past few years, a girl from Germany, a boy from Jordan and another girl from Brazil, who all attended TCCHS.
Edwards says being a host family has been a very positive experience and a wonderful opportunity to learn more about different countries and cultures. She adds she still stays in touch with all her students and their families.
Frederickson says there is a full vetting process for host families.
There is also a process for students, who must do well in school, speak proficient English and go through an orientation of their own.
Edwards says everything in life is a risk, but her experience being a host family was a risk worth taking. She adds the hardest part about hosting is having to say goodbye.
The Edwards family is taking a break from hosting this year to do some traveling themselves, but hope to open their home again in the future.
Frederickson says she is trying to match all students with a confirmed host family by the end of June, so she advises interested families to register as soon as possible so students can begin school on time and families have time to prepare and can begin to get to know their student.
Interested families should reach out to Frederickson directly via academicyeartn@gmail.com or 931-444-9383, or by visiting the AYA website at www.academicyear.org.
