Student Resources
At TVS, students of all ages have a variety of ways that they can connect with people from different cultures. Families with PreK kids up to 12th graders are invited to host our international guests, and we offer Trojans Abroad Programs for students in grades 8-12 annually (in non-pandemic years). There are also a variety of local and domestic programs listed here to help our students further expand their horizons and see the world through different lenses. Upper School students who participate in a number of Global/Multicultural programs at TVS and elsewhere can receive recognition for their achievements, and they are encouraged to consider diving even deeper into a passion by participating in the Global/Multicultural Signature Program.
Use the links below for details about these programs, awards, and opportunities.
- Recent Upper School Announcements
- HOST AN INTERNATIONAL GUEST
- TROJANS ABROAD TRAVEL PROGRAMS
- Stephen Seleny Travel Endowment Application
- LOCAL/STATE CAMPS AND PROGRAMS
- TVS GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP AWARD
- TVS INTERNATIONAL GOODWILL AMBASSADOR
Recent Upper School Announcements
Some recent announcements/opportunities include:
- Spend 2 weeks this summer with high schoolers from around the world! Applications extended through Fort Worth Sister Cities' International Leadership Academy (July 16-31, $1175, current 9-12th graders). CLICK HERE to apply!
- Spend 1-2 weeks in D.C. at Close Up’s Institute for Deliberative Democracy—developed in partnership with Stanford’s Center for Deliberative Democracy and the National Network of Schools in Partnership—and learn/practice the tools, knowledge, and experience you need to become a powerful advocate and leader. Learn more HERE.
- Participate in the UCLA Model United Nations Summer Institute--a week-long intensive academic program for students who are interested in international diplomacy and foreign affairs. (July 24 – July 30, 2022) For more details, CLICK HERE.
- Looking to volunteer but don't know where to start! FWISD's International Newcomer Academy is looking for tutors and friends for their refugee and immigrant high school students who just moved to the US. They need volunteers Mon-Thurs afternoons anytime between 3:40-5:40 (you will need to arrange your own transportation). EMAIL Dr. Roemer for more details.
- Interested in international issues (politics, economy, wars, peace, culture?) Join the TVS Jr. World Affairs Council (JWAC).
- Discuss "Quality Education" with high schoolers across the nation! May 10 (11-12:30) REGISTER FREE HERE!
- Social Justice Art Competition (Jr. World Affairs Council) Submit Jun 1-July 30. Details HERE
- TVS Upper School Clubs/Committees you might be interested in joining this year: (email Dr. Roemer for more details)
- Student Equity, Inclusion, & Community Committee (Help plan Multicultural Moments in Assemblies, discuss ways to improve the TVS experience towards the goal of creating a place of belonging for all students)
- Unity Club (discuss a wide variety of social issues--domestic and abroad)
- JWAC (Jr. World Affairs Council--discuss international topics, present/learn about student interests, attend expert talks, compete in the Academic WorldQuest competition...)
- GSA (Gender Sexuality Alliance--discuss topics pertaining to the LGBTQ+ community)
- Multi-Racial Empowerment Club--discuss multiracial and ethnic diversity and their positive effects on our school and beyond
HOST AN INTERNATIONAL GUEST
Join the 240+ TVS students and faculty who have home-hosted our international guests since 2011 or our 70 students who hosted virtually in 2020-21!
Experience another culture without leaving your home and share our culture with our international guests. This year, you can host online again! SIGN UP HERE to join our Virtual Hosting Exchange.
TVS families are also invited to host 1-2 students/adults at a time from one or more of these countries. Guests need a place to sleep, a hospitable home, rides to/from school with your children, and some meals with your family. See below for details or to sign up, or contact Dr. Roemer to learn more!
Our in-person guests all have hosts already, but we hope you'll consider hosting next year!
Spring 2022:
1. Host found! WHO: 1 Swiss Assistant Teacher (female; 20s; all ages can host
2-3. Hosts found! WHO: 2 Danish Assistant Teachers (1 female and 1 male; 20s; all ages can host 1 or the other
CONTACT DR. ROEMER TODAY FOR MORE INFO ON ANY OF THESE (OR FOR FUTURE) HOSTING OPPORTUNITIES!
CLICK HERE for more details about Hosting, including answers to FAQs.
TROJANS ABROAD TRAVEL PROGRAMS
In support of TVS’ Missions of “the development of wide constructive interests” and “intelligent citizenship” and TVS' Global Education goals of global competency for all our students in Self-awareness, Empathy, Cross-cultural Communication, and Cross-cultural Understanding, each year we offer Travel Programs to get our students out of their comfort zones, gain independence, and to see the world through different lenses. Scroll down to see what TVS offers and other programs run by reputable third parties.
For reviews of previous TVS programs, CLICK HERE.
2022
Due to the on-going COVID19-related travel restrictions, the unpredictability of travel this summer, and increased risks involved in international travel caused by the pandemic, TVS will not be leading students abroad this summer.
POSSIBLE FUTURE TRIPS
2023
- 1:1 Ambassador Exchanges in Australia & Scotland
- Japan: Beyond War & Peace
- Spain Language / Culture / Homestay
- Costa Rica TOE Beyond
2024
- 1:1 Ambassador Exchanges in Australia & Scotland
- China Language / Culture / Homestay
- England Shakespeare / British Theatre
- Greece TOE Beyond/History Exploration
NON-TVS TRAVEL PROGRAMS (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER):
The following abbreviated list is mainly for summer programs for 15-18-year-olds. There are also Gap Year programs (between high school graduation and beginning college) and semester and year-long programs available. Contact Dr. Roemer for more information.
CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR UPDATED INFORMATION.
When selecting a study abroad program beyond what TVS already offers, a few things you need to consider first are:
- where you want to go;
- for how long/when you want to go;
- what you want the focus to be (e.g., language, community service, TOE-like experience, school credit, home stay…);
- about how much you can spend; and
- other reasons you want to go abroad.
African Leadership Academy Global Scholars Program
Global leadership program in South Africa; join an exclusive group of high school students from around the world; experience parts of southern Africa; volunteer with local organizations; make new friends; **study abroad and gap year programs also available at the African Leadership Academy
CIEE High School Summer Abroad
Language, Service Learning, Science, Arts, History, and other trips to Germany, the Dominican Republic, Tanzania, Botswana, Ireland, Morocco, and much more!
Experiment Leadership Institute
Fully-funded 6-week leadership programs in South Africa/Mozambique or India/Nepal
Fort Worth Sister Cities International
9-11 day culture exchange/home stay trips to Hungary, Germany, Italy, or Mexico for Spring Break and China, Japan, France, eSwatini/Swaziland, or Indonesia in the summer (offerings vary annually)
Applications: due around October 14 (including teacher recommendation)
Oxbridge Academic Programs
4-week pre-college academic programs and language immersion in England, France, Spain, or Scotland
Rustic Pathways
Service learning, Science, History, and other programs in Southeast Asia, Fiji/New Zealand, Peru, Cuba, and much more!
School Year Abroad
5-week language and cultural immersion in China, France, and Spain; global studies training in Italy; **semester programs also available
U.S. State Department Youth Ambassadors Programs
3-6 week Youth Ambassadors, Youth Leadership, American Youth Leadership Program; These trips are fully funded by the State department; click on the above link for more details/application.
Where There Be Dragons
4-6 week service/adventure/cultural/language exchange trips to China, Southeast Asia, Himalayas, Latin America, Africa, Middle East; college credits possible; **Semester and Gap Year programs available too.
There are many other programs available for you to consider. Talk with Dr. Roemer if you are interested in going abroad on one of these or if you'd like help searching for other programs.
Stephen Seleny Travel Endowment Application
LOCAL/STATE CAMPS AND PROGRAMS
CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR UPDATED INFORMATION
Camp CommUNITY
Multicultural Alliance. Students from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and options come together for a 5-day sleep away camp focusing on leadership and social change. For 10-12th grades (at time of application); advanced registration around May 1. Camp dates: late June; Cost: approx. $325 (financial aid available)
Global Ethics and Conflict Resolution Summer Symposium for High School Students
Univ. of Texas at Austin. This camp is a unique university program for high school students interested in talking about the world, conflicts, and ethics and learning some skills of their own; fees range from $885-$1400. Financial Aid available. June (1 or 2 weeks). Deposit is due in May.
International Leadership Academy
Fort Worth Sister Cities International 2-week residential program focusing on making international friends and gaining leadership skills. Upper School (For current 9-12th grades; applications due in Feb (includes Teacher Recommendations); program dates July; Cost: approx. $1050
Middle School (6th-8th grades at time of registration; registration due in April; program dates July (one week); Cost approx. $325
Fort Worth Youth International
Join the Youth Board for Fort Worth Sister Cities International and get involved in their activities while meeting people from around the world. Excellent community service opportunities! To get involved on the Youth Board, check the FW Sister Cities calendar for open events for students.
TVS GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP AWARD
This award recognizes 1-3 students (generally, seniors) who have demonstrated exceptional Upper School leadership in the world through an intimate understanding of, and repeated interactions with, people from different parts of the globe. Past recipients have proven to be conscientious global citizens through actions such as travel to foreign countries, advanced communication skills in at least one foreign language, hosting or being hosted by people from one or more countries, or participation in domestic international programs. See the list for the International Goodwill Ambassador certificate below for other examples. Contact Dr. Roemer to nominate a student, yourself, or a friend.
Past Recipients:
- 2014: Zach Harris, Anne Jacobs, & Mandy Miller
- 2015: Stephanie Bell
- 2016: Margaret Murray, Siva Paladugu, & Aniqa Premjee
- 2017: Grace Beasley
- 2018: Allison Byrd, Kamryn Dow, & Sarah Shamai
- 2019: Ananya Vennam
- 2020: Piper Duncan, David Fauber, Saleem Razack, Anna Stupfel, & Hayden Ullmann
- 2021: Deborah Carreno, Ellie Davis, Rowen Kliethermes, & Jacob Levy
TVS INTERNATIONAL GOODWILL AMBASSADOR
This certificate recognizes Upper School students who have shown a commitment to improving our community’s understanding of, and who have had repeated interactions with, people from different cultures. Contact Dr. Roemer to nominate yourself or a friend. New and repeat award recipients must have participated in at least three new programs/activities each year (since May of the previous year):
- Successfully completed (or nearly completed) the highest level of world language study offered at TVS or approved online course;
- Able to converse with fluency or near fluency in more than one language;
- Traveled/Studied for at least 8 days in a foreign country on a formal program;
- Hosted or was hosted by one or more individuals from abroad;
- Participated in a local or domestic international program;
- Active member of an international club (e.g., Jr. World Affairs Council, International Food Club, etc.),
- Completed volunteer work in another country;
- Made a formal presentation of knowledge gained from experience with another culture;
- Successfully completed (or nearly completed) coursework on advanced international topics (e.g., AP European History; AP Human Geography, AP World History, Modern Asia, Global Leadership, Religion in Culture, Social Justice, etc.);
- Volunteered at an International Fair (TVS or elsewhere); and
- Other (contact Dr. Roemer for other suggestions).
Global friendships start here.
In This Section

DR. MICHAEL ROEMER
Director of Global Education
roemerm@trinityvalleyschool.org
817-321-0135
Skype: TVSGlobal
Instagram: @ TVSglobaled
Twitter: @TVSGlobal