Youth Exchange - Outbound Prelim Applications Due

NOW ACCEPTING OUTBOUND YOUTH EXCHANGE APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2026-27 SCHOOL YEAR!

Rotary District 5580 is using an online application for this year’s potential outbound students. The application can be found by visiting: https://yehub.net/CEN-obapp.

When you identify a student who is interested in becoming an exchange student, please have the student visit the link above to create a profile and begin the online application. They should also email me at rotaryyeo@gmail.com to introduce themselves and notify me of their online application.

1. Most Rotary Clubs have a Youth Exchange Committee of at least 2 or 3 people (including the YEO) to interview the student and their parents. You could also have a group from your International Committee or New Generations Committee do the club interview if you do not have a Youth Exchange Committee. 
2. After the club interview, please reach out to me by email to let me know if you will be recommending the student for consideration to the District. I will contact the student and their family to arrange for the District interview.
3. Central States will utilize the online application the student completes, along with several supplemental documents required for Exchange. 
4. Please encourage your students to make appointments for physician and dental visits as soon as possible. These appointments can take a while to schedule and are needed to complete the supplemental documents section of the application process.
5. Once they have completed the online application, the student can use the appropriate sections for medical, school, and other required information, and I will work with the student to make sure that all information is provided in the correct format with the appropriate signatures. 
6. An application fee of $400 is due following the District interviews if the student is accepted into the program.  A check (or Canadian money order in US funds) should be written to “Rotary District 5580 Youth Exchange”, and delivered at District interview, or mailed to me at:

Sam Evans

607 NW 5^th ST

Grand Rapids, MN 55744

7. District interviews are tentatively scheduled for Saturday, October 25^th at the District Conference in Duluth.  Additional interview dates and locations for District interviews may be set up based on the number and residence of students who apply. 
8. Following the District interviews, I will send an email to each applicant (and their YEO) to let the applicant know if they have been accepted or rejected. I will work with each accepted student to make sure that their full application and associated paperwork is completed correctly before the November 20^th deadline. I may ask for your help in obtaining signatures from your club or assisting the student in anything that may be unclear to them. 
9. Central States will let me know of country assignments in mid-January. I will send an email to each applicant and YEO confirming the assignment. The $1,500 remainder of the application fee is due after accepting country placement. (A 2-payment plan will be available as needed in January and May)

The student should begin the application process as soon as possible. I will send the supplemental documents paperwork after they have completed the online application. However, they should be making doctor appointments now for September and October. All medical forms and supporting information must be submitted with the full application no later than November 20^th. 

You can also be working with the students to obtain the following information which will be needed for the full application: 

1. A copy of any legal documents (most recent court order) associated with divorce or guardianship (we want this included in the preliminary application so that we are aware of additional paperwork or issues that we may have to address). 
2. Each student must provide an original certified birth certificate. (In Canada, this must be the long form birth certificate). Have your student order one from the state ASAP.
3. The student will be required to provide 2 years of school transcripts (not including this year). 
4. The student should make doctor, dentist, (and eye, if they require corrective lenses) for September or October.
5. The student should have their own email address if they don't already have one (NOT their family email address!)

I have attached a list of cost projections, a calendar of required activities, a list of questions that you may want to use in your club interviews, and a letter that we have sent to all clubs describing the Outbound Youth Exchange process.  If you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact me at rotaryyeo@gmail.com or by phone at 218-398-0063. I look forward to working with you and your students!

Sam Evans

Youth Exchange Outbound Coordinator — District 5580 Rotary Youth Exchange

Grand Rapids Rotary Club

35487 E Mc Avity Lake Rd

Grand Rapids, MN 55744

(218) 398-0063

rotaryyeo@gmail.com