BOONE, N.C. — The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) for Young Professionals has selected two Appalachian State University College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) alumni for its 42nd cohort:
Kennedi Ratcliffe ‘25, from Reidsville, North Carolina
Alexander Wojnicki ‘25, from Woodstock, Illinois
CBYX for Young Professionals is a fully funded fellowship sponsored by the U.S. Congress and the German Bundestag, designed to strengthen ties between our two countries through cultural exchange and professional development. Annually, the highly competitive program provides 65 U.S. and 65 German young professionals with the opportunity to spend one year in each other’s countries, studying, interning, and living with hosts on a cultural immersion program.
U.S. participants receive two months of intensive German language training in Germany, four months of classroom instruction at a German university, and a five-month internship in each participant’s career field.
Ratcliffe and Wojnicki began their fellowships in July and will complete them in June 2026.
Kennedi Ratcliffe ‘25
Ratcliffe graduated summa cum laude with university honors in May. She holds a bachelor's degree in economics and a bachelor's degree in political science with a concentration in international and comparative politics, as well as a minor in German.
During her undergraduate studies at App State, Ratcliffe studied abroad in Vienna, Austria, interned at the U.S. Department of State, and attended the 2024 U.N. Climate Change Conference as part of the App State delegation. In May, Ratcliffe was named the top overall student by the Walker College of Business.
Through CBYX, Ratcliffe is currently spending a semester at the University of Münster in Münster, Germany. Next, she'll complete an internship with a company or organization based in Münster, which will allow her to apply her German language skills while gaining hands-on work experience.
Ratcliffe shared that App State prepared her for the fellowship by providing opportunities focused on both academics and global engagement. "I am especially grateful for the support of the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures—specifically all my German professors—who encouraged me to pursue language learning and explore international experiences throughout college and beyond," she added.
Ratcliffe encourages students interested in international exchange and language learning to explore various scholarship programs, such as CBYX. "The skills and professional experiences I will gain throughout the course of the next year will undoubtedly shape my future in meaningful ways," she wrote.
After CBYX, Ratcliffe hopes to secure an international relations position in Washington, D.C. and eventually pursue a master's degree either in the U.S. or Germany.
Alexander Wojnicki ‘25
Wojnicki graduated magna cum laude in May. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science with a concentration in international and comparative politics and a minor in sustainable development.
As an undergraduate student at App State, Wojnicki studied abroad at Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic, an experience that he says provided him with a deeper appreciation for cultural exchange and global collaboration.
Through CBYX, Wojnicki is currently spending a semester at the TUD Dresden University of Technology in Dresden, Germany, and will complete an internship with a company or organization based in Dresden. "It’s an incredible opportunity to gain cross-cultural communication skills, expand professional experience in an international setting, and represent the U.S. as a cultural diplomat," shared Wojnicki.
Wojnicki credited the education and mentorship he received in the Department of Government and Justice Studies with preparing him for the rigorous fellowship, writing, "The outstanding guidance from App State professors like Dr. Peter Thompson and Anders Sjöstrand, just to name a few, have been extremely crucial in my academic and personal journey."
After CBYX, Wojnicki plans to pursue further education or professional roles that focus on environmental policy and international cooperation.
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About the College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at Appalachian State University is home to 17 academic departments, two centers and one residential college. These units span the humanities and the social, mathematical and natural sciences. CAS aims to develop a distinctive identity built upon our university's strengths, traditions and locations. The college’s values lie not only in service to the university and local community, but through inspiring, training, educating and sustaining the development of its students as global citizens. More than 6,800 student majors are enrolled in the college. As the college is also largely responsible for implementing App State’s general education curriculum, it is heavily involved in the education of all students at the university, including those pursuing majors in other colleges. Learn more at cas.appstate.edu.
By Lauren Gibbs
September 23, 2025
BOONE, N.C.
The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX), or Parlamentarisches Patenschafts-Programm (PPP), logo.
The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX), or Parlamentarisches Patenschafts-Programm (PPP), logo.