Baruch College Student Wins Fellowship to Germany
April 2, 2024
Valerie Chlafer, a public affairs major and an aspiring Foreign Service Officer, is the fifth Baruch undergraduate to be chosen for U.S. State Department’s Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals program.
Baruch College undergraduate Valerie Chlafer (’24) will soon get to travel outside the United States for the first time, as she is among 75 Americans selected to spend one year in Germany through the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX) program.
Chlafer is the fifth Baruch student to win a coveted CBYX fellowship, which is sponsored by the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
The cultural immersion program consists of three phases: two months of intensive German language training; one semester of classes at a university, technical, or professional school; and a three- to five-month internship.
“I’m looking forward to being surrounded by the other amazing fellows and immersing ourselves in German culture together, conversing with locals (especially about politics), trying German food, and visiting historical sites!” said Chlafer, a public affairs major at Baruch College’s Marxe School of Public and International Affairs with a minor in economics.
Chlafer aspires to work as a Foreign Service Officer at the Department of State and believes the CBYX will help her reach this career goal.
“Participating in CBYX will enable me to understand cultural diplomacy and international relationship building more meaningfully,” she says. “The CBYX experience will effectively prepare me to represent the U.S. to other countries and enable me to become a more adaptable, responsible, and culturally aware version of myself.”
Advising Support for Student Awards
Baruch College’s Office of National & Prestigious Fellowships Advising helps guide students through the steps of applying for any scholarship and award that supports their academic studies.
Besides the CBYX Fellowship, the Office assists students with numerous opportunities including Fulbright awards, Gilman International Scholarships, Venture for America, Jeannette K. Watson Fellowship, Freeman-ASIA scholarship, Schwarzman Scholarships, and more.
# # #