 The Community College Initiative program, or CCI program, is a one-year grant for a selected group of international students to study for a year at Highline Community College. The CCI program is designed to nurture young professionals from specific countries around the world. The students applied for this scholarship through the embassies or Fulbright Commissions in their countries and then selected students were sent to one of 14 colleges around the United States who administer this grant. This year Highline has students from Indonesia, Turkey, South Africa, Kenya, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Pakistan. The CCI students follow a non-degree professional technical program for one year to build their skills and experience. During spring quarter the students complete an internship in their field of study for practical application of what they have learned in their classes. In addition, the students complete a global leadership development course and they are also committed to volunteering in the community. After completing the academic year, the CCI students will return home with greater leadership and professional skills to contribute to the development and economic growth of their countries. My name is Catherine Warecha. I am from Kenya. I currently a student at Highline Community College. I'm taking a major in Hospitality and Tourism Management sponsored by the CCI program. I enjoy socializing, learning new skills, and meeting new people. My name is Fadime. I am from Turkey. I studied Child Development at a university in Turkey. I am also part of CCID students at Highline. I love playing table tennis, hiking, riding, bicycle, and making toys. My name is Marlo Henrique Ducoto and I'm from Goiânia, a city placed in the middle of Brazil. Like many Brazilians, I'd say happiness is my strongest quality. I like music, movies, and plays, and I have a strong interest in any form of art. I am 22 years old and I study Hospitality and Tourism. I found out about CCI program back in my college in Brazil. San Ibonan, my name is Simpi Uetuba from South Africa in a city called Durban. In South Africa, I'm studying at the Durban University of Technology studying degree in tourism management. I'm a CCI student studying at Highline Community College studying Hospitality and Tourism. My hobbies are playing basketball, playing the piano, and the aviation industry. My name is Sariana. I'm from Costa Rica. CCID has given me the opportunity to learn and practice more about my major. It also has given me the opportunity to know a lot of people from all around the world that I would never imagine that I could know. It also let me grow like a person and also like a professional. My name is Janelian. CCID has a big impact for my life, personal and professional, especially with my education. I have better knowledge about tourism development as my major at Highline Community College. I met other students from many different countries, make a friendship, and share culture among us. It is a memorable and valuable experience for my future life. My name is Juan and you can call me Rizu. I am from Pakistan. CCI program has nurtured my personal and professional skills. Being part of Knowledge Based Society, what I learned, the importance of community services, and the quality education. The skills and knowledge which I have learned here will help me to assist with social and economic development of my own country. My name is Swaklif. I'm from Kenya. The CCI has given me great impact at Highline. It has enhanced my skills and my profession academically. Like my area of study, computer security, I have learned now to gather information and do investigations in several occasions. Once I go back home, I'll teach my people on how to investigate, on how to learn, on how to control cybersecurity, you know, in the organization. Good day, good people. My name is Ernest. I am from South Africa in Johannesburg. A wise man once said, opportunities are dressed in overalls. When I go back to South Africa, I am planning to go back to the University of Johannesburg and complete my degree in information management. Coming to the U.S. has given me an opportunity to learn from a diverse community within Highline and getting to do an internship will give me extra confidence and experience in making sure that I contribute to the mainstream economy of South Africa, Africa and the world. CCID has given me a great opportunity and I'm very thankful. Thank you very much. My name is Karimi Arbegg. I'm from Pakistan. I'm studying here tourism and hospitality for one year. It's a scholarship funded by the state government of the United States. I learned a lot of things being here since it's my seventh month in the States, in the college. And I learned a lot of things about the hospitality and tourism, which I can imply a lot back in my country when I go back to Pakistan. In June 16th, that's my last day here at Highline Community College and that will be the end of my course. I would like to imply all those skills what I learned here is my country is rich in tourism, especially in the mountains. We have 300 plus mountains about 7,000 meters, so we have a great opportunity to imply our individual abilities. What we learned around the world is our skills. Thank you very much. Hi, my name is Manuela. When I go back to Brazil, I want to put in practice everything that I learned here that will make me find a good job in my area, which is information technology. I also want to be more involved in my community and especially do more volunteer work. My name is Mansi. After I go back to Costa Rica, I want to finish my major in science teaching and make an impact as a leader with the students in high school. I also want to get a job in my current major, hospitality and gain experience as a hotelier. I want to become a general manager because in the future I want to have my own hotel. Senator Fulbright once said, International Educational Exchange is the most significant project designed to continue the process of humanizing mankind to the point we would hope that men can learn to live in peace.