Young Kaiserslauterner conquers the US school world as an ambassador!

Young Kaiserslauterner conquers the US school world as an ambassador!

Ben Clemenz, a 16-year-old student from Kaiserslautern, currently has the opportunity for his life. As a scholarship holder in Parliamentary sponsorship program (PPP) of the German Bundestag, he lives and learns in Cincinnati, Ohio. Clemenz was selected for the full scholarship due to its high academic performance and thus represents his home country as a junior ambassador.

cincinnati, known for his strong German emigrant history, impresses Clemenz with cultural diversity and historical influences, which are visible in the cityscape and the last names of the inhabitants. The city is also the venue for the second largest Oktoberfest in the world, directly to Munich. As a young people who were enthusiastic about music, Clemenz finds numerous cultural offers here that very much commit to him.

everyday school life in the USA

Clemenz visits the "Walnut Hills High School", a facility that specializes in artistic subjects. There he experiences a significantly different school life than in Germany. The lessons begin at 8 a.m. and comprises subjects such as English and computer science. The over 200 election subjects at the school, which also include creative courses such as pottery, are particularly remarkable.

The exams in the USA are often carried out digitally on laptops, and many tasks are based on the "multiple choice" format. Clemenz is very active in the musical area: he is a member of the Big Band, the choir and takes part in a theater class for advanced. His talent has already shown in various performances in which he played the role of the "Erich" in the musical "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" and performed at the winter concert.

commitment and experiences

clemenz is also involved outside of school. He works on a local hospital on a voluntary basis and is also a member of the American scouts. This time in the USA has already made several trips possible for him, including New York, Chicago, Washington D.C. And the picturesque stools.

Despite the exciting experiences, the future of exchange programs such as the PPP could be uncertain. Planned changes in the new US government raise questions. After the return of Clemenz ’to Germany in summer, participation in the next exchange will come about. The next application deadline for the PPP 2026/27 starts on May 2, 2025 and ends on September 12, 2025, with schoolchildren and young professionals being the target group.

The honorable patronage of the PPP is with the Bundestag president, and the program has connected numerous young people from Germany and the USA since its foundation in 1983. It offers a wide range of opportunities for cultural and educational exchange.

The scholarship holders not only benefit from the possibility of experiencing life in another country, but also from an alumni community that provides numerous resources and networking options, as reports the US message