American Hellenic Institute Foundation Announces 18th Annual College Student Foreign Policy Study Trip to Washington, DC, Greece and Cyprus
AHI Releases 2025 AHIF Foreign Policy Trip Report
Washington, D.C. — The American Hellenic Institute Foundation (AHIF) is pleased to announce its 18th Annual College Student Foreign Policy Study Trip, a three-week study-abroad program that provides American college students with unparalleled, firsthand exposure to U.S. foreign policy priorities in Washington, D.C., Greece, and the Republic of Cyprus. The tentative dates are June 14-July 2, 2026.
The AHIF College Student Foreign Policy Study Trip is designed to deepen students’ understanding of the strategic importance of U.S.–Greece–Cyprus relations and the broader foreign policy challenges affecting U.S. interests in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Through high-level briefings, site visits, and direct engagement with policymakers and experts, participants gain practical insight into diplomacy, security cooperation, and regional geopolitics.
The program begins in Washington, D.C., where students attend meetings and briefings with officials from the Greek and Cypriot embassies, the U.S. Department of State, Congress, and leading policy think tanks. These sessions provide a foundational understanding of U.S. policy formulation before participants travel overseas.
In Greece and the Republic of Cyprus, students meet with officials at the U.S. Embassies, ministries including Foreign Affairs, military leadership, members of parliament, religious leaders, as well as representatives from academia, think tanks, and the private sector. These engagements offer students a comprehensive view of how policy is developed and implemented on the ground.
A highlight of the program includes day trips to two strategically significant locations in Greece. In Crete, participants visit Naval Support Activity (NSA) Souda Bay, where they tour the facility and receive a briefing at the NATO Missile Firing Installation (NAMFI).
“For 18 years, this program has exemplified AHIF’s commitment to educating the next generation of foreign policy Greek and Cypriot American leaders,” said Nick Larigakis, AHI President “By bringing students directly into conversations with decision-makers in Washington, Greece and Cyprus, we are preparing them to better understand and engage with issues critical to U.S. national interests.”
Past participants have used the experience to secure competitive internships and professional positions, develop academic research, and pursue careers in foreign policy, diplomacy, international law, and global business.
The program is open to full-time undergraduate and graduate Greek and Cypriot American college students with a minimum 3.00 GPA, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis beginning in January 2026. Space is limited and applicants are encouraged to apply early.
“As an alumnus of the AHIF Foreign Policy Study Trip and now AHIF Student Program Director, I have seen firsthand the lasting impact this experience has on students,” said Will Martin. This program goes far beyond the classroom—participants engage directly with the people, institutions, and realities shaping U.S. policy in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Meeting government officials, military leaders, and policy experts in Washington, Cyprus, and Greece gives students an unmatched understanding of the region’s strategic importance. Perhaps most importantly, the program helps students recognize the unique role Greek Americans play in advancing U.S.–Greece–Cyprus relations. It empowers the next generation to turn knowledge into action and to carry forward the responsibility of advocating for democracy, security, and stability in the region.”
We are also pleased to share a comprehensive report on the 2025 AHIF College Student Foreign Policy Trip (held June 11–July 2, 2025). The report includes detailed student biographies, a full itinerary, AHI press releases, student essays, media coverage, and a collection of photos from the trip and briefings in Washington, D.C. The report can be viewed here: AHIF FOREIGN POLICY PROGRAM REPORT
Students interested in learning more or applying can review the full program details and submit their application:
Program Information Sheet:
AHIF 2026 Student Foreign Policy Information Guide
Application Form:
AHIF 2026 Student Foreign Policy Trip Application
For more information, please visit www.americanhellenicinstitute.org or reach out to Will Martin, AHIF Student Programs Director at wmartin@ahiworld.org or 202-785-8430
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