Rotary Youth Exchange
The Rotary Youth Exchange program is a year-long opportunity for US high school students to travel abroad and for students from other countries to come to the US! The exchanges help students experience new peoples, cultures, adventures and personal growth. Rotary Youth Exchange provides more than 8,000 teenagers each year an adventure of a lifetime: a chance to live, learn and become a true part of a new family, culture and way of life as a high school foreign exchange student.
Locally three local Stillwater Rotary clubs collaborate on the exchange program: Lake Elmo, Stillwater Noon and Stillwater Sunrise.Each year these clubs’ sponsors both inbound students from other countries and outbound Stillwater students.
Program Information
Spending time abroad with Rotary Youth Exchange is a once in a lifetime experience. Your exchange will encompass different phases that will give you opportunities to grow in new ways and experience a new culture and ideas.
Here is a great story about how lives are changed through Rotary Youth Exchange, Your Passport to Adventure.
The purpose of the Rotary Youth Exchange program is to provide secondary school students with the opportunity to travel abroad, live with a host family, and experience life firsthand in a different country, school, and social environment. Exchange students will gain lifelong advantages through an expanded world view and greater appreciation of the world.
For more information, read A Primer for Exchange Students on the Central States Rotary Youth Exchange site.
Countries and Age Requirements
North Star District (Rotary District 5950/5960) Youth Exchange of Southern Minnesota and Western Wisconsin currently exchanges with many different countries around the world. No matter what your tastes or interests, we probably have a country that will work for you.
Listed on the North Star website are the countries (subject to change) with which we exchange. Some countries have age restrictions.. No candidate who will become 19 years of age on or prior to a country’s anticipated departure date will be considered. (Note: the receiving country has the option to determine the approximate departure date. Most students depart in July or August.)
To apply or for more details, click here: Student Information
To contact Stillwater Sunrise Rotary for more information, please click Contact us, above.
Exchange Student Maria with Host Families
Testimonial from our 2025/2026 Rotary Inbound Exchange Student
What I liked best about living in Minnesota this year was getting so many unforgettable experiences. Going to American high school, spending time with new friends, trying new sports like cross country and alpine skiing, and celebrating holidays with three different my host families made every day special.
I also loved how kind and welcoming everyone was. Before coming here, I had no idea what my exchange year in Minnesota would be like but it quickly became a place that I truly love. The memories I made here will stay with me forever.
It’s hard to choose just one favorite memory from this year because every experience felt like I was living my American dream. I loved even the little things, like riding the yellow school bus every morning. Speaking English every day was challenging, and sometimes it was frustrating, but it was all part of the American dream I had always imagined.
One of my favorite memories is senior sunset because I arrived in the U.S. late and I missed Senior Sunrise. That made Senior Sunset even more special to me. Watching the sunset with my friends made me realize how close we had become, and it’s a memory I’ll always treasure. Of course, joining clubs, going on the East Coast Trip, and participating in RYLA Camp were also some of my favorite experiences because I was able to meet so many amazing friends. Meeting those people was one of the greatest gifts of my exchange year.
My host families had the biggest impact on my exchange year. Whenever I was going through a difficult time, they were always there for me. They listened to me, supported me, and gave me kind and encouraging words. They always told me, “you’re a strong woman.”Those words meant more to me than they probably realized. They helped me believe in myself and truly made me stronger. Because of them, I was able to overcome the hard moments and keep moving forward. Their homes became a place where I could always be myself and became my second family. I lost count of how many times I thought, “How am I so lucky?” I will always be grateful for their love, kindness, and everything they did for me. They didn’t just give me a place to stay. they gave me a place where I belonged, and that made this exchange year more meaningful than I could have ever imagined.
Finally, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Rotary. Thank you for giving me this wonderful opportunity and for supporting me throughout my exchange year. Because of Rotary, I was able to experience so many incredible things and meet amazing people from all over the world who have made my life richer. I am also deeply grateful to my family and teachers in Japan for supporting my decision to study abroad, and to every single person I met here. This year has changed my life, and I will carry these memories, friendships, and lessons with me forever. Thank you!
