Project Bridge

2016 Project Bridge Group Photo

The application for the 2023-2024 Project Bridge program has closed.

About Project Bridge

In the spirit of cultivating culturally sensitive leaders of tomorrow, the Mansfield Center, The Korea Society of New York City and the Pacific Century Institute in Los Angeles select twenty high school students to become Youth Ambassadors in the Project Bridge intercultural youth leadership program.

For the third time, Montana youth are able to take part in the academically enriching Project Bridge program. Selected Youth Ambassadors are Montana residents enrolled as juniors in a Western Montana area public, private or homeschool high school and will take part in an intercultural youth leadership and intercultural awareness program that advances the ability of its participants to understand and respect other cultures. Originally created in response to the 1992 Los Angeles riots, the goal of the Program is to “bridge” the gap among cultures through cultural awareness and leadership training. It aims to cultivate future community leaders and introduce them to U.S.-Korea relations, with an emphasis on cultural and racial sensitivity and a firm understanding of Korea.

Project Bridge has expanded its outreach, from the Los Angeles-based Pacific Century Institute and the Korea Society located in New York, to rural and tribal youth through partnering with the Mansfield Center at the University of Montana. This is the Mansfield Center’s only academic youth exchange with Korea, adding to our strong youth international exchange programs with Japan, China, Thailand, and Cambodia.

Through a competitive process, Project Bridge admitted 24 student Youth Ambassadors for its 2022-2023 cohort, including eight from western Montana. The Montana students joined a cohort of eight Los Angeles and eight New York Youth Ambassadors and three group leaders on a yearlong academic program.

The Program offers many exciting opportunities for its Youth Ambassadors to build leadership skills and intercultural competence, improve their public speaking ability, and grow their personal and professional networks. Students engage in bi-monthly educational workshops on topics such as Korean history, language, modern society, and U.S.-Korea relations, as well as race relations in the U.S., which are led by topic experts. A key element of the Program is a collaborative research project with their Los Angeles and New York counterparts. Pandemic allowing, the capstone event is an all-expenses paid ten-day study tour in spring 2024 to the Republic of Korea. In the past, Youth Ambassadors have visited Korean high schools, universities, government ministries, businesses, museums and have experienced a homestay with a Korean high school student, as well as an overnight Buddhist temple stay. Throughout the program, students meet with diplomats, government officials, and business leaders. Following the tour, students conduct a community presentation, sharing insights gained.

2023-2024 Program Timeline

October 9, 2023: Application Opens

November 6, 2023: Application Closes

Mid-November 2023: Applicant Interviews

Late November 2023: Finalists Announced

December 2023: Program Begins

March 2024: Study Tour to Korea

June 2024: Program Wrap-Up

2023-2024 Youth Ambassadors

  • An image of Anna Sun smiling

    Anna Sun

    My name is Anna Sun, and I’m a Junior attending Lincoln County HIgh School in Eureka, Montana. I’m typically swamped with school work - as I place a high priority on my academics - but whenever I have free time, I like to read, bake, and write. I’ve always been passionate about learning about new cultures, so I’m so excited to be a part of Project Bridge: I can’t wait to learn more about Korea’s long history and rich culture!

  • An image of Blyth Bolman

    Blyth Bolman

    My name is Blyth Bolman, I was raised in Mandaree, North Dakota and moved to Ronan, MT in 2017. I am an enrolled member of the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. I am a Junior in High School and am interested in becoming an Emergency Surgeon/Lead Surgeon. I participate in Track and Field competing in hurdles, participate on the Cheer team as a Stunt Man and I play in a local band. I am very involved in my local native community, and am involved in High School Programs such as Native American Club, Resilience in Something Else (RISE) and Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA). I plan on going to Medical School to pursue my dreams of becoming a surgeon.

  • An image of Kaylie Tedesco smiling

    Kaylie Tedesco

    My name is Kaylie Tedesco and I attend Bozeman High School. I am on my school's debate team and track and field team and also partake in our Academic World Quest Club. In my free time I love to read and travel whenever I get the chance to. I am really excited to be a part of the Project Bridge Program and learn about Korean history and its evolution to become one of the world's leading economies.

  • An image of Maggie Watts leaning on her hand smiling

    Maggie Watts

    My name is Maggie Watts and I live in Frenchtown where I attend Frenchtown highschool as a junior. I am an avid dancer and train all throughout the year in classical ballet, contemporary, hip-hop, etc. I have always had a keen interest in history and it’s easily my favorite subject. I never want to be more narrow-minded than I have to be, so I'm very excited to be an ambassador for this year's Project Bridge study tour! I cannot wait to learn about culture, language, and everything in between from people all over the world. South Korea is a place with a long and rich history that is incredibly evident in their modern day society. I’m looking forward to interacting with such a different culture up close and personal, I really can’t wait to expand my worldview and explore the colorful land that is South Korea!

  • An image of Grace sitting on a sidewalk

    Grace Park

    My name is Grace Park! I am from Great Falls, Montana and I am currently attending Great Falls High School as a junior. In school, I love improving in myself by taking honors and AP classes and participating in clubs and sports. I am passionate in the power of education, equality, and creating positive change in our society. I'm excited to connect with like-minded individuals to work together to dive deep into the rich and beautiful culture of Korea!

  • An image of Maizy smiling against a wall

    Maizy Miller

    My name is Maizy Miller, I attend Hellgate high school in Missoula, Montana. I spend a lot of my free time playing sports including varsity and club soccer. I also play hockey on the Missoula boys high school team. I am VP of my junior class and participate in Model United Nations. When I am not playing sports, I love to be outdoors skiing and rafting. I am very excited to learn more about Korean history and the 70 year Korean/U.S. alliance and partnership.

  • Avery smiling with mountains in the background

    Avery Stephens

    My name is Avery Stephens, a 16-year-old student at Sentinel High School. During the weekdays, I dedicate myself to preparing and bonding with my BPA and Speech and Debate teams. In my free time, I love wildlife photography, baking, and hiking. I am thrilled to be joining Project Bridge because it allows me to experience a culture I wouldn't have otherwise. I believe Cultural exchange is an important aspect of our society that should have greater precedence in the future.

  • A close up of Mikaela smiling.

    Mikaela Mayne

    My name is Mikaela Mayne, I'm 17 years old and I live in Whitefish, MT. I go to Flathead High School and my favorite class is my Environmental Systems and Sociteties class. I love being outside and I enjoy hiking, running, swimming, and camping. I can't wait to see South Korea's unique sights and landscapes, and I'm also excited to learn about Korean culture.

2022-2023 Youth Ambassadors

  • Max Carter

    Max Carter

    My name is Max Carter, I am a junior at Big Sky High School. I am the Junior Class President of Student Government and the Junior President of our Health Science Academy. I most enjoy my science classes in school, including Principles of Biomedical Science, Biology, and Physics. Outside of my education, I enjoy Soccer, Pole Vault, and Skiing. I hope to gain insight about our current world problems from the diverse culture of Korea. On our trip, I am excited to learn about Korean history and the relations between the U.S. and Korea. I am also thrilled to create life-long friendships with my fellow Youth Ambassadors from Montana, California, and New York.

  • Andrew Egan

    Andrew Egan

    My name is Andrew Egan, I'm a junior at Beaverhead County Highschool. I participate in Cross Country, Track and Field, Future Farmers of America (FFA), as well as Student Government. My favorite subject in school is Welding and Metal fabrication which is offered through Montana Tech. Outside of school I love taking photos, hiking, and fishing. I love working outdoors and am looking forward to seeing the massive city of Seoul, South Korea. Having never been to a city as modern and big as Seoul it will be a pretty memorable experience. But I'm most excited for the memories I'll make and the stories I'll share with my community.

  • Evyn Good

    Evyn Good

    My name is Evyn Good, I’m 17 and go to Hellgate High School. I am a part of Hellgate’s speech and debate team, as well as Academic World Quest and Model United Nations. I play basketball and I fish and raft for fun whenever I am able to. My favorite subject is History and Sports Science because I love to learn about how our body works and how other things have worked in the past. I enjoy meeting new people and seeing the experiences and things that they have gone through. I believe this is the best way to understand the world around us, as well as finding ways that we can best help everyone else in our extended world. I am excited to meet new people in Korea and see what their day to day life is like, as well as how they interact with their social and physical environments around them. I hope Korean culture will allow me to better understand the world around me, as well as give me a new perspective on not only the world, but myself in the process. I hope to learn more and learn the best way to help myself, my local and global community throughout our process of going to Korea and meeting new people.

  • Gerik Manger

    Gerik Manger

    My name is Gerik Manger, I’m 17 and a junior at Hellgate High School. I am a part of our Student Government, the Debate team, and Model United Nations. I also play lacrosse and the drums, and enjoy biking and cross-country skiing. My favorite subject this year is by far philosophy, I love having discussions about the unknowable with my peers and hearing new perspectives. I am very excited to learn about Korean culture and how they interact with their natural and built environments, as well as each other and what kinds of things they connect over. I hope that the uniqueness of Korean culture will expand my perspective and allow me to transfer my new experiences and knowledge into the community and help spread a sense of understanding and acceptance of other people and their backgrounds.

  • Jesse McCormick

    Jesse McCormick

    My name is Jesse McCormick, and I’m a junior at Sentinel High School. I’m a member of the tennis and debate teams, and participate in MUN, Academic WorldQuest, and Amnesty International. I also love swimming for the Missoula YMCA Swim Team. My favorite subject is definitely history, because I love learning about how decisions hundreds of years ago have managed to affect us in the present. I like to read, play pickleball, and hang out with friends...as well as spend way too much time on TikTok. I am so excited to participate in Project Bridge and explore the similarities and differences between Korea and the United States, and learn ways to lead global dialogues.

  • Nya Seibert

    Nya Seibert

    Hello, my name is Nya Seibert and I am a junior at Stevensville High School. I am the captain of my Speech and Debate team where I participate in public forum debate. I am also a part of National Honors Society and Key Club. In my spare time I enjoy learning about recent events happening around the world and researching the history leading up to some of these happenings. I am excited to be able to learn more about Korea throughout this program!

  • Reese Wolfgram

    Reese Wolfgram

    My name is Reese Wolfgram. I’m 16 years old, and a junior at Broadwater High School in Townsend, Montana. I play volleyball, wrestle, and run track, as well as take on leadership roles in my school’s FCCLA, NHS, Student Council, and Interact clubs. In my free time, I love to hunt, go skiing, and travel within and outside of Montana. I am excited to learn more about South Korea’s culture, history, and relations with the United States. Through Project Bridge, I believe we can achieve the goal of better viewing others' perspectives and becoming great individuals.

  • Sydney Yung

    Sydney Yung

    I’m Sydney Yung. I’m a junior at Hellgate High School, where I play soccer and help out in the Model UN and SAVE clubs. I enjoy surfing, skiing, water coloring, learning computer science languages, watching Studio Ghibli films, and reading science fiction novels. I’m passionate about expanding the roles and participation of girls in both computer science and international policy. I see Project Bridge as an amazing opportunity to expand my own worldview and increase my sensitivity and knowledge around race relations, while building meaningful cross-cultural friendships. I’m very grateful for this opportunity and I’m excited to take advantage of it!

2021-2022 Youth Ambassadors

  • Samuel Kayll

    Samuel Kayll - Loyola Sacred Heart High School

    My name is Samuel Kayll. I’m 16 years old, and I’m a junior at Loyola Sacred Heart High School. I am a member of Key Club, I play soccer and participate in speech and debate. In my free time, I love to play, write, and listen to music; hang out with my friends; and enjoy the outdoors. One of the issues I’d like to draw more attention to is racism against Asian-Americans, and I hope that Project Bridge gives me an opportunity to learn more about this problem so we can make steps towards eliminating hate crimes.

  • Cyrus Kiely

    Cyrus Kiely - Hellgate High School

    My name is Cyrus Kiely, I’m sixteen years old and a junior at Hellgate High School. I am a member of the tennis team, and if I had to choose my favorite subject in school, it would be Arabic, but I also enjoy math and history. I enjoy playing tennis, skiing, and spending time outdoors in whatever capacity. I am excited to learn about Korean history and relations with the U.S. with people of various perspectives and backgrounds.

  • Noel Migliaccio

    Noel Migliaccio - Big Sky High School

    My name is Noel Migliaccio and I am a junior at Big Sky High School in the Health Science Academy. I enjoy my science and math classes and being a part of our Key Club, Student Government, and soccer and track teams. In my free time I enjoy snowboarding and hammocking. In this program, I am hoping to gain cultural insight into Korea and meet new people that can help me and others become better people in our communities.

  • Lily Miller

    Lily Miller - Hellgate High School

    Hi, my name is Lily and I am a junior at Hellgate High School where I am in student government and I love all my classes. Go Knights! I am a Montana girl at heart that loves skiing the trees, rafting rivers and surfing our local play wave. I am also a member of the Red Ants Pants Girl’s Rural Leadership program working on a project that highlights girls' voices in wilderness spaces. I race for the Hellgate Mammoths (state champion) mountain bike team and play competitive hockey. It is my dream to play hockey in college, and to study engineering and literature. When I was little, I started a project to help girls in Nepal access education, and I am honored to be a part of Project Bridge, which will help me learn more about the world outside my town and how young people can play an important role in global interconnectedness.

Contact

For more information, contact program manager Randi Edwards at randi.edwards@mso.umt.edu.