Baruch College Student Earns Prestigious Fellowship to Germany

Sebastian Franco

NEW YORK, NY- May 9, 2016- Baruch College student Sebastian Franco ’16 has been awarded the prestigious Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) for Young Professionals Fellowship. The CBYX is a fellowship funded by the German Bundestag and U.S. Congress that annually provides 75 American and 75 German Young Professionals the opportunity to spend one year in each other’s countries, studying, interning, and living with hosts in a cultural immersion program.

Franco will leave for Germany in July, where he will live for a full year. His fellowship is divided into three sessions, with the first three months focused on intensive language training, followed by two months of German University classes, and finally work placement in the country.

For the Staten Island-born Franco, the fellowship provides an invaluable real-world opportunity that he once considered improbable. “CBYX offers me the chance to explore Germany, its systems of governance, and Europe as a whole. Coming from my means, I never thought this was a real possibility, however, getting accepted has made this idea into my reality,” he said.

Franco is thankful to Baruch College and its faculty and staff for the support they have provided throughout his academic career. “I came into college knowing I wanted to work in government and college debt was a major concern of mine. Baruch offered me a quality education. The School of Public Affairs specifically taught me practical knowledge in the ways of using government to provide services to people.”

He continued, “Through the school I have had the chance to work for city, state, and federal legislatures. Also getting to know the faculty and staff on a personal level, they have helped me in my multiple fellowships and graduate school applications for after I leave my undergrad career.”

Baruch College President Mitchel B. Wallerstein has set a five-year goal of sending at least 15% of Baruch students abroad each year for international experience. “Let’s become one of the nation’s leading models for how an affordable college with limited resources is able to give its deserving students exposure to the world,” President Wallerstein said in his 2015 State of the College address.

Students interested in studying abroad are encouraged to visit the Study Abroad Office website, or visit the office on the 8th floor of the Annex at 137 E. 25th Street (next to the Library Building).