Project Bridge

Mike Mansfield sitting on steps of the US capitol building

Mansfield Center

Project Bridge

2016 Project Bridge Group Photo

Applications are now closed.

Eligibility Requirements

Be a high school student in the 11^th grade during the 2024-2025 school year.
Attend a public, private, or homeschool high school and reside in the state of ��ؿ�.
Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident.
Have a passing Grade Point Average (GPA).
Demonstrate a strong interest in learning about different cultures in general and Korea specifically.
Be able to attend bi-monthly events and meetings from November 2024 to June 2025. Most workshops will be held over Zoom with the possibility of 1-2 in-person workshops pending the selected applicants' locations.
Be able to attend the ten-day study tour to Korea. Participants will need to be absent from school for up to ten days in April 2025. We have tentatively scheduled the travel to Korea for April 12 to April 24, 2025 (this includes 2 travel days).

Please reach out to randi.edwards@mso.umt.edu with questions about the program or application process.

2024-2025 Program Timeline

September 20, 2024: Application Opens

October 20, 2024: Application Closes

Early November 2024: Applicant Interviews

Mid-November 2024: Finalists Announced

December 2024: Program Begins

April 12-24, 2025: Study Tour to Korea (dates subject to change)

June 2025: Program Wrap-Up

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 24 high school students to become Youth Ambassadors in the Project Bridge intercultural youth leadership program.

For the fourth time, ��ؿ� youth are able to take part in this academically enriching program. Selected Youth Ambassadors are ��ؿ� residents enrolled as juniors in a ��ؿ� 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 and the located in New York, to rural and tribal youth through partnering with the Mansfield Center at the ��ؿ�. This is the Mansfield Center’s only academic youth exchange with Korea, adding to our strong youth international exchange programs with Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, and Cambodia.

Through a competitive process, Project Bridge admitted 24 student Youth Ambassadors for its 2023-2024 cohort, including eight from western ��ؿ�. The ��ؿ� 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 Project Bridge is a collaborative research project with their Los Angeles and New York counterparts. The capstone event is an all-expenses paid ten-day study tour in spring 2025 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.

Youth Ambassadors

Aly Little Coyote

My name is Aly Little Coyote, and I am a junior at Seeley Swan High School at Seeley Lake ��ؿ�. I was born and raised in Lame Deer, ��ؿ� on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation where I’m an enrolled member but I moved to Seeley Lake in the spring of 2022. I enjoy reading, writing and taking photographs of anything when I am not busy with school. When I graduate I plan to become a journalist or a published author. I am excited to be a part of Project Bridge to learn more about Korean culture and how different it is to mine and let others know about the diversity. I am a part of the RISE Native Student Leadership program at my school and when I’m not focused on that I love taking part in my drama club.

Damien Wilson

My name is Damien Wilson and I attend Victor High School. I am treasurer of my school’s National Honor Society and I enjoy playing in my local community concert band. My favorite subject in school this year is US History because I enjoy learning about the events of the past that shaped society today. In my spare time, I enjoy studying the Korean language and learning about different cultures (and their cuisines). I also enjoy traveling and have experience traveling abroad. I am very excited to be a part of Project Bridge and to learn and experience first-hand the rich history and culture of South Korea.

Em Williamson

My name is Em Williamson, and I am a junior at Bozeman High School. After school, you can find me teaching sex education across the Gallatin Valley with Peer Ed, or at Speech and Debate practice. But I love hiking, painting, weight training, and baking gluten-free goods for my family in my free time. I’m excited to join Project Bridge to learn intercultural leadership skills to serve my community better, as ��ؿ� becomes an increasingly diverse state. The study tour of South Korea is an amazing opportunity to put those skills into practice while immersing oneself in a rich culture and history. Connecting with people is my passion, and I’m looking forward to expanding my horizons through the lens of the U.S.-Korea diplomatic relationship!

Luca Khomenko

My name is Luca Khomenko. I am a seventeen-year-old junior at Sentinel High School in Missoula, ��ؿ�. At school, I dedicate myself to a variety of clubs and activities such as Speech and Debate, Tennis, World Affairs, and the High School Democrats. Outside of school I enjoy working as an intern in the ��ؿ� World Affairs Council and also volunteering my time helping refugees at Soft Landing Missoula. Many hours are also spent playing classical and jazz piano along with enjoying outdoor activities here in ��ؿ� such as hiking, running, and skiing. I am totally ready to explore South Korea’s rich history and culture because I would like to apply my knowledge one day in a career in international affairs.

Makenna Monroe

My name is Makenna Monroe, and I was born and raised in the Bitterroot Valley. I am a current Junior attending Stevensville High School, where I participate in AP classes and in many extracurricular activities. I am the captain of our Speech and Debate team and am involved in Key Club, Academic World Quest, and mentorship programs. I have a passion for education, kindness, and equity, and dream of making a positive difference. I am incredibly honored to be a part of the Project Bridge Program and cannot wait to further my knowledge of diplomacy and explore the beautiful culture of Korea!

Mishayla Lambott

My Name is Mishayla Lambott I’m 17yrs old and a Junior at Broadwater High School in Townsend MT. My favorite subject would have to be Macro and Microeconomics and my second favorite subject would be Calculus. I participate in 5 clubs and play 3 sports: basketball, volleyball and track. In my free time I like to do travel sports, hiking and some sort of job. I also love helping my community in any way possible. My future goals are to travel the world and get a degree in diagnostic medical sonography. I'm excited for the opportunity to be involved in project bridge as it will help expand my knowledge on the culture of other countries but teach me human relations with others around me. I can't wait to travel and am excited for the rest of this journey.

Sophia Guerrero-Gobert

My name is Sophia Guerrero-Gobert, and I am a junior currently attending Browning High
School. I participate in my school’s Academic World Quest club, Girls in Coding club, and Book
Club, and I was previously a member of the Speech, Drama, & Debate team. Outside of school, I
enjoy painting, collecting trinkets, Fancy Shawl dancing, and Jingle Dress dancing. Project Bridge
will be a tremendous experience, and I am so excited for what more it has in store

Sylvie Semanoff

My name is Sylvie Semanoff, and I’m a junior at Hellgate High School. I am actively involved in Debate, Key Club, HOSA–Future Health Professionals, Model United Nations, and the Missoula Youth Symphony. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with friends, reading, and traveling. I’m thrilled to be part of Project Bridge and look forward to deepening my understanding of diplomacy and the relationship between the U.S. and Korea. I am excited to expand my global perspective and engage in meaningful cross-cultural dialogue.
Anna Sun

My name is Anna Sun, and I’m a Junior attending Lincoln County HIgh School in Eureka, ��ؿ�. 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!

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.

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.

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!

Grace Park

My name is Grace Park! I am from Great Falls, ��ؿ� 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!

Maizy Miller

My name is Maizy Miller, I attend Hellgate high school in Missoula, ��ؿ�. 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 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.

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.
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 ��ؿ�, California, and New York.

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 ��ؿ� 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

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

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

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

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

My name is Reese Wolfgram. I’m 16 years old, and a junior at Broadwater High School in Townsend, ��ؿ�. 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 ��ؿ�. 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

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!
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 - 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 - 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 - 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 ��ؿ� 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.