2026 Student Exchange
Find out more and apply for the Tempe Sister Cities Student Exchange for Summer 2026.
The last day to apply is January 3rd, 2026!
About TSC
Our student exchange, educator exchange, and professional exchange programs are among our many valued programs that help promote international good will and cultural understanding. Tempe Sister Cities’ encourages cross-cultural cooperation and collaboration by building friendships between people and partnerships between communities. Tempe has eleven sister cities worldwide.
Sending students abroad through our Tempe Sister Cities Student Exchange program is our top priority, as well as supporting our sister cities through activities to promote international goodwill and cultural understanding.
Fundraisers like Oktoberfest and Hackett House events support our mission to bridge cultural divides and create personal connections both abroad and at home.
The Historic Hackett House, which serves as headquarters for the award winning Tempe Sisters Cities, provides a wonderful backdrop which inspires our staff to create programs and events that allows us to participate in and enrich our community.
Events
Our volunteers’ creativity makes Tempe Sister Cities a national leader in innovative fundraising strategies. From our annual Oktoberfest, three day festival to the Hackett House historic bakery complex.
Get Involved
Tempe Sister Cities has received an Overall Best Sister City Program in America award four times and more than 20 additional awards ranging from “Overcoming Geographical Distance” to “Developing Local Awareness” to “Contribution to World Peace and Understanding.”
News & Announcements
- Angie Taylor: Longtime TSC Volunteer Awarded The Don Carlos Humanitarian Award
The Don Carlos Humanitarian Award honors individuals who have made Tempe a better place to live through impactful and lasting work that addresses human services in our city. The award is Tempe’s most prestigious distinction. Congratulations to Angie Taylor who has been named the 42nd recipient of the Don Carlos Humanitarian Award. A lifelong Tempe resident and passionate advocate for youth, families, and underserved communities, Angie is being honored for her decades of hands-on service, leadership in cultural exchange and education, and unwavering commitment to creating a more compassionate and connected Tempe. - TSC Awarded Innovation Award from Sister Cities International
Tempe Sister Cities is thrilled to announce that our Youth Cultural Exchange program received the 2025 Sister Cities International Innovation in Youth & Education Award at the prestigious Diplomat Gala in Fort Worth. This honor celebrates our commitment to fostering global connections and cultural understanding among youth in cities with populations of 100,000–300,000. Since 1972, Tempe Sister Cities has sent over 800 students abroad, building bridges across cultures through meaningful exchanges. This award, part of Sister Cities International’s Annual Awards Program since 1962, recognizes our program’s outstanding contributions to citizen diplomacy. A heartfelt thank you to President David Carerra and Board Member Joe Forte, who accepted the award on our behalf, as well as our dedicated board, volunteers, delegates, and parents. Your passion and support make this program a beacon of global unity. Here’s to continuing our mission of connecting the world, one exchange at a time! - Meet TSC Member: Carrie Austin
Carrie Austin is a Tempe Sister Cities parent serving on the Student Selection Committee. Her son, Kielan, went to Regensburg, Germany in 2024. I served with Carrie on the California Trip Committee and, during a bus ride, learned about her incredible adventure before marriage, children, and Tempe Sister Cities. Carrie agreed to share her story.