Congratulations to Yousra Nakkach of Morocco, April’s YES Student of the Month! Yousra was selected from an exceptional group of nominees for her leadership, volunteer service and exemplary support of the YES program and its goals.

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Consistently a leader at Lincoln Park High School and in her Chicago community, Yousra was chosen by her teachers from among the school&rsquo;s 2300 students to serve on a student leadership team of 20.&nbsp; In March she was named outstanding student leader and chosen to represent the school at the Chicago School Board.&nbsp; There she met with Chicago Public School administrators to discuss her school&rsquo;s leadership training program, the YES program and her experience in the United States. When she toured the Dirksen Federal Building with a cluster of ECA-sponsored students, her profound questions so impressed a judge with whom they were meeting that she invited the group back into her chambers.<br />
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During International Education Week, Yousra gave over 20 presentations and did not stop there &ndash; to date she has given 61 presentations, with eight more scheduled this month.&nbsp; She helped generate over 50 host family leads as well as interest among American students in studying abroad.<br />
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Yousra has volunteered in many venues and has already completed over 100 hours of community service.&nbsp; She was elected vice president of the Key Club, a service club at her high school. She has volunteered at Misericordia, a residential home for children and adults with developmental and physical disabilities. Yousra also led her cluster&rsquo;s participation in a Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration. &nbsp;<br />
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Yousra has a warm relationship with her host family and is an active family member, even helping to pick out the new family dog. She is also a talented musician who performs in musicals and other school productions. Her placement organization, AFS, writes that Yousra is &ldquo;one of the best of the best,&rdquo; who excels in every aspect of the YES program.</p>

Photo courtesy of Barb Kelly: Yousra visiting a judge's chambers in the Dirksen Federal Building