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<\/a> Miles Iliff, a 15-year-old at AFNorth International School (AIS) in Brunssum, the Netherlands, completed a project last fall creating two orientation videos to familiarize incoming youth about available school activities and other ways to plug into the community. It served as the culminating project for his Eagle Scout rank with Scouting America. Friends and Family gathered in February for a celebration of his accomplishment at his Court of Honor.<\/p>\n He has also participated in several school sports including as a defensive lineman in American football, point-getter for his weight class in wrestling, and as a shot put and discus athlete with the track and field team.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a military kid and someone who moves quite often, being part of these activities has allowed me to make new friends and teammates,\u201d said Iliff. \u201cBeing able to travel internationally to compete in sports is a unique opportunity for kids.\u201d<\/p>\n Sawyer Ter Horst<\/strong><\/p>\n Sawyer Ter Horst, an 18-year-old at Brussels Unit School (BUS) at Sterrebeek Annex, Belgium, is also an avid American football player and captain of the team. Not only has he participated as part of their championship team, but during his high school career, he has been selected for the First Team in Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) Europe division 3 for offense twice, the First Team in all DODEA Europe for defense, and the Second Team in all DODEA Europe for offense.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me I have always wanted to better myself in some way and competition is a huge motivator,\u201d said Ter Horst. \u201cSeeing people better than me just compels me to grow stronger and be better in any way I can.\u201d<\/p>\n Ter Horst has also competed in the winter sport of wrestling and is currently coaching the new athletes on the throwing team for the school\u2019s track and field season.<\/p>\n Selah Skariah<\/strong><\/p>\n Selah Skariah, a 17-year-old at AIS, also finds her passion in sports which could be evidenced by the numerous awards she has received in basketball and soccer. Over her high school years, she has been awarded five All-Tournament honors between the two sports as well as being selected for Most Valuable Player for two years in basketball and making the All-Europe Second Team in soccer and First Team in basketball.<\/p>\n Even with her full competition schedule and being captain of the basketball team, Skariah also finds time to lead National Honor Society as president and participate in the International Student Council to plan events for the school and make key decisions for the senior class. This year she also delved into AVID tutoring for middle school students, helping them to organize their assignments and deadlines, balance their extracurricular activities, and build their confidence in speaking and interacting.<\/p>\n \u201cThese experiences have not only honed my leadership and teamwork skills but have also reinforced my commitment to contributing positively to those around me,\u201d said Skariah.<\/p>\n Elizabeth Hall and Miles Gussing<\/strong><\/p>\n Both Elizabeth Hall, a 14-year-old at SHAPE International School (SIS) in Mons, Belgium, and Miles Grussing, a 16-year-old at BUS, find fulfillment in oratorical events as they learn how to improve their speaking skills and defend their positions.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of people are scared of public speaking \u2026 but there is something really cool about being able to share ideas to a big audience,\u201d said Hall.<\/p>\n She developed her skills in the speech and debate class offered at her previous overseas school, to include excelling in the semi-finals and finals tournament in different styles of presentation. Now at SIS, she participates in the Model United Nations club and learns to present on politics to garner \u201cvotes\u201d. In her free time, Hall has spent years in scouts, dedicated time to play her instrument of violin in the school orchestra and actively competed on the swim team.<\/p>\n Grussing invests time in the scouting community as well and at school has joined the Chess Club and The Future Business Leaders of America. Outside of school, he enjoys independent traveling and the local theater class that he attends weekly. Most recently, Grussing\u2019s presentation skills came out on top at the American Legion Oratorical competition as he walked away with first place at the local and regional competition and expects to attend the national contest in Michigan, USA, in May. All of his activities contribute to a strong sense of belonging in the community.<\/p>\n \u201cI came to Belgium with the mindset of believing I would never quite feel at home; however, with the ability to travel, talk to locals, and \u2026 experience things on my own, [it] has allowed me the space to discover that I have never felt more at home,\u201d said Grussing.<\/p>\n Shaun Reynolds<\/strong><\/p>\n Shaun Reynolds, age 16, found his place of belonging with guitar as he has delved into all things music at AIS. Homeschooled until this year, his talent on the guitar was cultivated through hours of practice and internet tutorials. Within a year, he convinced his parents to invest in an electric guitar, and he joined the jazz and alternative ensembles to play with the AIS band. Reynolds traveled with the school to Creative Connections and the Honors Music Festival to broaden his musical experiences. Most recently, he submitted a pre-recorded audition to the Boys and Girls Club of America National Youth Talent Search through the Child and Youth Services on the JFC Brunssum installation in the Netherlands and earned an expenses-paid trip to California, USA, for the contest in May.<\/p>\n \u201cThe hardest part where you have the most anxiety [in performing] is right before you play the first note,\u201d said Reynolds and went onto to explain how competition is steep. \u201cGuitarists grow on trees. In a world where guitar is so saturated \u2026 I try to be the best at what I do.\u201d<\/p>\n Aneta Stefancinova<\/strong><\/p>\n Aneta Stefancinova, an 18-year-old at SIS celebrates her heritage through Slovakian folk dance and playing accordion. Since childhood, her repertoire consisted of a multitude of activities including various sports and contests in the field of science. As a young adult, she has continued participating in sports such as cross country and track and field and also travels with a folk dance ensemble. In her academic work, Stefancinova submitted an environmental project last year to Genius Olympiad and won a silver medal at the international round in the USA. With a youth writing program at school, she dedicated time to write two books about her grandparents and their lives. National Honor Society and the Duke of Edinburgh programs have offered space for her to volunteer for the school and the community. And her proficiency in many languages\u2014Slovak, Czech, English, French, German and Russian\u2014has provided connections to cultures throughout her travels to more than 40 countries.<\/p>\n
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\n Miles Iliff, a 15-year-old at AFNorth International School participates in several school sports including as a defensive lineman in American Football, point-getter for his weight class in wrestling and as a shot put and discus athlete with the track and field team. (Courtesy photo)
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\n Miles Iliff, a 15-year-old at AFNorth International School answers questions from a panel of judges at his Eagle Scout Board of Review on Sept. 30, 2024, in Brunssum, the Netherlands. (U.S. Army photo by Sandra Wilson, USAG Benelux Public Affairs)
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\n Miles Iliff, a 15-year-old at AFNorth International School participates in several school sports including as a defensive lineman in American Football, point-getter for his weight class in wrestling and as a shot put and discus athlete with the track and field team. (Courtesy photo)
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\n Sawyer Ter Horst, an 18-year-old at Brussels Unit School at Sterrebeek Annex, Belgium, holds a discus, shot put, and football helmet on the school\u2019s track March 20, 2025. Throughout his high school career, he has been selected for numerous awards in American football. (U.S. Army photo by Richard Komurek, USAG Benelux Public Affairs)
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\n Sawyer Ter Horst, an 18-year-old at Brussels Unit School at Sterrebeek Annex, Belgium, wins a wrestling match. Throughout his high school career, he has been selected for numerous awards in American football. Ter Horst competes in wrestling throughout the winter.
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\n Selah Skariah, a 17-year-old at AFNorth International School in Brunssum, the Netherlands, was captain of this year\u2019s basketball team. Over her high school years, she has been awarded five All-Tournament honors between the two sports as well as being selected for Most Valuable Player for two years in basketball.
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\n Selah Skariah, a 17-year-old at AFNorth International School in Brunssum, the Netherlands, was captain of this year\u2019s basketball team, won numerous honors in basketball and soccer, and held various school leadership positions throughout her years in high school. (Courtesy photo)
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\n Elizabeth Hall, currently a 14-year-old at SHAPE International School in Mons, Belgium, spent years in scouts, dedicated time to play her instrument of violin in the school orchestra and actively competed on the swim team. (Courtesy photo)
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\n Elizabeth Hall, currently a 14-year-old at SHAPE International School in Mons, Belgium, began to explore oratorical endeavors in her speech and debate class during the 2023-2024 school year at her previous overseas school. She excelled and competed in the final round in her first tournament. (Courtesy photo)
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\n Miles Grussing, a 16-year-old at Brussels Unit School at Sterrebeek Annex, Belgium. American Legion Oratorical competition as he walked away with first place at the local and regional competition and expects to attend the national contest in Michigan, USA, in May. (Courtesy photo)
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\n Miles Grussing, a 16-year-old at Brussels Unit School at Sterrebeek Annex, Belgium. American Legion Oratorical competition as he walked away with first place at the local and regional competition and expects to attend the national contest in Michigan, USA, in May. (Courtesy photo)
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\n Shaun Reynolds, a 16-year-old at AFNorth International School in Brunssum, the Netherlands, speaks with a representative of the Boys and Girls Club of America online in the Child and Youth Services Teen Center on JFC Brunssum, the Netherlands, Feb. 12, 2025. He will be traveling to California, USA, in May for a talent search contest. (U.S. Army photo by Sandra Wilson, USAG Benelux Public Affairs)
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\n Shaun Reynolds, a 16-year-old at AFNorth International School in Brunssum, the Netherlands, speaks with a representative of the Boys and Girls Club of America online in the Child and Youth Services Teen Center on JFC Brunssum, the Netherlands, Feb. 12, 2025. He will be traveling to California, USA, in May for a talent search contest. (U.S. Army photo by Sandra Wilson, USAG Benelux Public Affairs)
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\n Aneta Stefancinova, an 18-year-old SHAPE International School student in Belgium, celebrates her heritage through Slovakian folk dance and playing accordion. As a young adult, she has continued participating in sports such as cross country and track and field, and also travels with a folk dance ensemble. (Courtesy photo)
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\n Aneta Stefancinova, an 18-year-old at SHAPE International School in Mons, Belgium, stands in front of her 2024 environmental project which won a silver medal at the Genius Olympiad international round in the USA. In addition to her academic endeavors, she finds value in volunteer work through school clubs and participation in a wide array of sports. (Courtesy photo)
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