American Secondary Schools for International Students and Teachers (ASSIST) was founded in 1969 by the late Paul G. Sanderson, Jr., a visionary American educator who was among the first to conceive of the benefits of an international educational community for American independent secondary schools. Mr. Sanderson began with a class of 13 students and created an educational and cultural exchange program that continues to bring deserving and talented boys and girls to study in the United States on one-year scholarships.

ASSIST's mission has broadened over its history to respond to changes in the educational and international landscapes. From our original base in Germany, we have expanded to numerous other regions and have brought to member schools scholars from countries underrepresented in their student bodies.

As well, ASSIST has added exchange experiences for students and teachers in our member schools. An opportunity now exists for these students to attend a leadership institute in the Czech Republic. Teachers can also attend a stimulating professional development program in Prague, the Czech Republic.

Strong leadership has been a core strength of ASSIST. After the untimely passing of Mr. Sanderson, Kenneth and Betsy Lindfors were appointed to lead ASSIST, and during their 13-year tenure ASSIST expanded substantially. Following their retirement, the ASSIST Board of Directors named Robert and Anne Stanley as the third leadership team in ASSIST's history.

With all of the programmatic advances, the core of our mission continues unaltered: to discover, select, place and support outstanding international students in American independent secondary schools of stature. ASSIST students are models of achievement at their American schools, where they add to the academic vitality of the community, make contributions to the artistic, athletic, community service and other extracurricular programs, and share willingly their own unique cultural backgrounds.

To date, more than 3,600 scholars from 35 countries have become ASSIST scholars. They have returned home to become leaders in their own countries, appreciative of their experience and with a deep understanding of American values and culture.