BUDAPEST, Hungary — United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lauded the Future Leaders Exchange Program during an international trip this week, noting that the scholarship program is now available for students from Hungary.
During his first visit to Hungary as secretary of state, Mr. Pompeo gave remarks alongside Peter Szijjarto, the Hungarian minister of foreign affairs and trade. During his address, Mr. Pompeo announced several initiatives to increase “support for people-to-people ties, events, and exchanges” between the two nations, including FLEX.
“As part of this effort, I’m happy to announce the addition of Hungary to the Future Leaders Exchange Program, which will provide scholarships for Hungarian high school students to spend a year living with US families and attending American schools,” Mr. Pompeo said. “I told Peter [Szijjarto] they all had to come to Kansas. That’s my home state.”
Valerie Frank, senior program manager at American Councils for International Education, which administers the FLEX program, was honored to have the exchange program recognized.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Hungary to the FLEX family this year and pleased that Secretary of State Pompeo included the program in his remarks,” she said. “We are fortunate to see every day how valuable citizen diplomacy through exchange programs can be, and it’s always wonderful to hear FLEX cited in this important context.”
Read the full transcript of Mr. Pompeo’s speech here.
