WORLD AFFAIRS: YOUTH PROGRAMS
On May 9, 2025, the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia proudly celebrated a Capstone Day and the graduation of its first-ever high school class of Global Scholars.
Fourteen students from nine high schools across Philadelphia and its surrounding suburbs delivered in-depth, self-directed capstone presentations on pressing global issues, such as:
- Women’s Rights in Bangladesh
- The Sand Trade
- Gardens of Tomorrow: Connecting the UN’s Sustainability Goals to Philly
- Black Media Portrayals and its Effects
- Humanitarian Robotics, Engineering Autonomous Solutions for the Global Refugee Crisis
Participating schools included:
- Academy at Plaumbo
- Bodine High School
- Conestoga High School
- Friends’ Central School
- George Washington Carver High School
- Harry S. Truman High School
- Haverford High School
- Julia R. Masterman
- Lankenau High School
Global Scholars is a free certificate program offered to high school juniors and seniors, who demonstrate a commitment to global affairs and cross-cultural awareness and who live in Greater Philadelphia. Students must meet certain criteria to enroll and graduate from the program, including completed social studies and elective courses, extracurriculars, community service, and a capstone project. Registration opens annually every September.
This unique program recognizes students passionate about international affairs and prepares them to join a global workforce—where over 95% of the world’s population and 70% of economic growth lie outside of the U.S.
From powerful speaker events and international exchanges to youth education, to professional development and curated travel programs, World Affairs is where continents, cultures, and ideas connect.
Visit our Flickr album for more Global Scholars event photos.