UNLV junior Alejandro Rios has always dreamed of studying in Germany. That dream is becoming a reality as he was selected to participate in the 2024-25 Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX) in Germany, beginning in August.
Funded by the German Bundestag (Parliament) and the U.S. Department of State, CBYX is a nationally competitive fellowship in which 75 American and 75 German students travel to each other’s countries for a year of study, work, and cultural immersion. Participants complete two months of intensive language training, one semester of study at a university, and three to five months at an internship in their career field.
Rios, a political science major and German studies minor in the College of Liberal Arts, said he’s grateful for the opportunity because it aligns with his career goal of working in immigrant and refugee aid and advocacy. He hopes to complete an internship with a government or non-profit organization focused on immigration or refugees.
“In the U.S., we often lack the opportunity to experience life in another country, learn the language, and open our minds to other perspectives,” said Rios, an avid fan of soccer and the German professional soccer league, Bundesliga.
“This opportunity with CBYX – especially with its all-inclusive program and its connection to the U.S. Department of State – is an important step to help me build my career.”
He says the experience will build on his extensive campus involvement, too. He works at The Intersection and the Undocumented Student Program, and is a member of the UNLV Model United Nations student organization.
College of Liberal Arts dean Jennifer Keene called the fellowship a tremendous accomplishment for Rios, the college, and UNLV.
“This fellowship recognizes his talents and passion for his academic and career interests, and highlights the supportive community our faculty create. We are so proud of Alejandro for his hard work in receiving this highly selective award,” she said.
The application process began last fall followed by rigorous in-person panel interviews in February. Selection criteria included well-defined career goals, interest in Germany and international affairs, a strong sense of diplomacy, and the ability to serve as a cultural ambassador of the United States.
Last year, the first two UNLV students in more than a decade were selected for the 2023-24 CBYX cohort. Zoe Dockery, a junior international business major, and Daniel Gutierrez, a junior finance major, are completing the internship phase of the program, said Kathy Callahan, associate professor-in-residence of German and CBYX campus coordinator.
Applications for the 2025-26 academic year open in September. For more information, contact Callahan at kathy.callahan@unlv.edu.
