Press Release For Immediate Release May 21, 2008	Media Contact: Mike Liberty Academic Year in America River Plaza, 9 West Broad St. Stamford, CT 06902-3788 (203) 399-5187 mliberty@aifs.com www.academicyear.org

Three Stamford High Schools Receive Prestigious Exchange Grant

STAMFORD, CT - Three Stamford high schools were recently awarded the prestigious Tony Cook Memorial Grant for the 2008/2009 school year.

Stamford High School, Westhill High School and the Academy of Information Technology and Engineering will receive the award of $1,000 for illustrating a commitment to international exchange through hosting foreign students and developing projects, programs and/or events that teach students about the global economy.

The Tony Cook Memorial Grant is administered by the American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS) Foundation and Academic Year in America (AYA), one of the largest and most respected high school foreign exchange student programs in the United States.

The three Stamford schools’ grant proposals were reviewed by a committee and were selected as winners amongst fifty other applicants. Westhill High School and Stamford High School have recently launched the pilot venture of AYA’s Mandarin Language Exchange Program, designed to increase and develop educational exchange between China and the U.S. The three schools plan to use the grant money on an official welcome ceremony for AIFS Chinese students in 2008, and to plan other exciting cultural events for the students throughout the year.

To qualify for a Tony Cook Memorial Grant, interested schools hosting AYA exchange students must submit an application outlining their program and why they feel it qualifies for funding support. These grants will be awarded again in Spring 2009.

To learn more about the Tony Cook Memorial Grant or to host an exchange student with Academic Year in America, contact Stella at (800) 322-4678, ext. 5164 or at aya.info@aifs.org.

About Tony Cook:
For almost 30 years, Tony Cook served his country as a career officer in the U.S. Information Agency. He was a graduate of Georgetown University and Georgetown Law School, and he dedicated his life to the ideals of fostering international understanding. Cook was a life-long member of the American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS) Foundation's Board of Trustees, and after retirement from the U.S. Information Agency, served as Director of the Foundation. Following his death in 1990, he was buried in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.

About AYA:
Founded in 1981, AYA is well recognized by high schools across the U.S. and endorsed by thousands of American host families. AYA is sponsored by the American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS) Foundation, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1967 with the assistance of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Its mission is to promote worldwide understanding though cultural exchange. The Foundation also provides scholarships that enable young Americans to study and travel abroad.