Thank you, Alison

Students from around the world share messages for Alison as she leaves FIUTS after six years.

Alison with Seattle Summer English Program participants, July 2012

It's so hard to believe that today is Alison Kilkenny's last day at FIUTS! Alison joined FIUTS in July 2009 as the Homestay & Community Relations Coordinator, and then became the Manager of Education Programs in 2011. In that role, she's done amazing work managing our visiting programs: The Youth Leadership Programs with Bosnia and Herzegovina and with Azerbaijan, the Seattle Summer English Program, and the Study of the U.S. Institute. Not to mention all of her work with UW students, including supervising the CulturalFest Booth Committee to plan the International Expo each year.

And so much more - Alison is an incredible leader and colleague, and has contributed so many things to FIUTS over the last six years that it would be impossible to list all of her accomplishments here. Instead, we asked some of the students she's worked with to send their thoughts and well wishes as she moves on to a new position at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Here are the (many) messages they had to share:

"Alison, you are such a wonderful person and a big inspiration to me. You have made my days in the US memorable and I know how much you contributed to FIUTS and Youth Leadership Program. I am sure you will continue doing great work at Bill and Melinda Gates foundation and I hope one day I can pursue my dreams like you are! Best of luck!" - Amina Maslo (YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

"Alison, I just want to thank you for being so nice and caring at our stay in the USA. I wish you all the best on your new job and I hope you remember all our great times together because I certainly will!" - Iva (YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

"I've seen many leaders as well as managers in my life. From all of them I can place you somewhere in the top 5! All the best Alison! සුබ පැතුම්!" - Haritha (SUSI Sri Lanka)

"I still remember when I first saw her the look in her eyes was Why did I take this job they [YLP:2014Fall] all are like a barrel of monkeys let free" then I then I realized she wears contact lenses. Now In all sincerity she seemed always like a person that wants to change the world and I'm happy that her new job allows her that." - Pavle (YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

"The happy face of the YLP experience. Thank you for your kindness and understanding. Best of luck." -Ismar (YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

"I got a chance to spend 3 weeks with Alison, though 2 years have passed since I first met her, I still remember her warmth, kindness, nicest eyes and friendly voice! I even remember how she went to buy marshmallows for my morning activity when I forgot to bring. She is absolutely one of the nicest persons I've met in USA! And I'm sure she has done a lot for FIUTS as well! Hugs from Azerbaijan!" - Samira (YLP with Azerbaijan)

"Dear Alison, thank you for making my stay in America nicer and better. I'm sorry you won't be part of FIUTS anymore, but I know you'll keep making people smile wherever you go!" - Teodora (YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

"Hi Alison, I'm really grateful that I was given an opportunity not only to learn at SUSI but to meet people like you. Keep spreading the love, warmth and positivity that your heart holds, wherever you go. Hugs and love." -Kritika (SUSI Nepal)

"I remember the first time I saw you; it was at the hotel in Sarajevo, you came out of your room and I saw a beautiful woman and thought: she has something special on her. YLP wouldn't be the same without you, and I'm so thankful that I met you. Keep a smile on your face and I'm sure you will succeed wherever you go!" -Erna (YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

"Thank you Alison for always having a smile on your face and making us understand that we matter to you guys." -David (YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

"Thank you for being a good listener and even better friend. Wish you all the best!!" - Una Belko (YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

"Hi Alison, I don't know if I will ever make it to FIUTS and UW again but if I can make it one day and won't see you at FIUTS, it will break my heart and will feel so incomplete. I envy you and your guidance while I was in U.S.. Thanking you from the bottom of my heart and wish you all the best for your coming days." - Anuja (SUSI Nepal)

"Alison, you are a beautiful person and I am more than glad to have met you. Thank you for all the love that you poured onto us. It really meant a lot. P.S. Much glory to you." - Mitali (SUSI India)

"Stay as SUSI in US would be incomplete without you. Your first announcement to that Last Packet of Tissue Paper which you gave in the airport when I was crying...everything is in my deep memory. Dear Alison, you are beautiful human being, beautiful inside-out! I just wish I could see you somewhere under this sky again. I Miss you! And, I wish you all the wishes for your new journey at work. Love!!!" - Kripa (SUSI Nepal)

"If anyone was great at what she does, it was Alison. An amazing human being and hard-worker- that is our Alison. I wish her all the best in future career and life. Lots of love."  - Tamara Žepinić (YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

"Dear Alison, thank you for making my stay in the US fun and exciting. I wish you the best with your future work!" -Zorana (YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

"Dear Alison, your karma, aura, optimism, smile and persona is something that is worth a lot and what has motivated many young people to do something good in their lives and community. Stay always so happy and positive because you make the world a better place. Do not be sad for leaving FIUTS, be happy because it happened..."- Alem (YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

"Dear Alison, I am so happy that I met you. You are such a great person. Good luck with your new job!" -Ljiljana (Teacher, YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

"Dear Alison, I wish you all the best in your new job and in your future career. Thank you for everything.Our stay in Seattle wouldn't be so perfect without you." -Igor (Teacher, YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

"Whether our students from Bosnia and Herzegovina were pursuing their various assignments in Seattle or just walking the streets of Washington D.C., Alison was always there, helping them with their projects, answering their curiosity or simply chatting with them, all that accompanied with her warm smile. As a teacher, I realized how much effort and energy she put in all that, but above all love for us all. Thank you for everything you did for us, Alison and I know you will do great at your new job." -Branka Babic (Teacher, YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

"Alison, You radiate happiness. I’m so glad to have met you. Thanks for making the 5 weeks I spent in the US so amazing. Good luck for your new adventure! Shine on. Lots of love." -Simran (SUSI India)

Dear Alison, My Seattle days are the most beautiful travel memories I have. You made my days in Seattle even more beautiful! Thank you for that and I wish you everything best in your life and career." -Sladjana (Teacher, YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

"Alison, I admire you for many things, but for having these two always with you I admire you even more - your optimism and your smile." -Amina (Teacher, YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

"Dear Alison, i just want to tell you that you are a beautiful person. Your words always inspire me and I'm really thankful for everything that you have done for us. Good luck with your new job." -Vanja Barac (YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

"Dear Alison, Firstly, I would like to thank you for all the help and support you have so unselfishly shown to me and everyone else from my group, especially when we needed it the most. You were always on top of situation, always playing a role of ' good cop ' while Tom was ' bad cop ' of course. I really liked your approach to each and every single one of us during our not so short stay in the States. I also find your respect for others and their opinions very admirable. I know you will be missed in FIUTS, as well as in all YLP groups. Best of luck!" -Irfan (YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

"Your encouraging smile and your tolerance have made our time in America Thank you for everything! I will always remember your eyes, the bluest eyes I have ever seen :))) Keep doing great things!" -Bojana (YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

"Dear Alison, remember when we were in Olympia for the Governor Ball and Ajla, Aldina, you and me were driving across the parking lot singing Icona Pop's song " I love it" ? That's one of my favourite memories so thank you for that. I wish you all the best and hope to see you again someday!" -Sara (YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

"Alison, you are an amazing young lady, you helped me a lot to improve my understanding of leadership and to deal with some problems in my society. I am glad that you got so attractive and interesting job, I wish you all the best!" -Hena (YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

"Alison, I had a great time working with you in Booth committee! I will definitely miss & think of you next year when I am in the committee again! Best luck for the journey ahead of you, and it has been incredible to be friends with you!" -Fleur, UW student (China)

"Oh Alison! You were my first contact at FIUTS. From Homestay to our last visit to a school. It's been a pleasure to have met you, celebrate birthdays and laugh! Keep doing the great job you've been doing it! I will certainly miss you...especially now that I am in my 30's." -Michel, UW student (Chile)

"Congratulations on your new job Alison! Wish you a lot of success and hope that it would be as awesome as working for FIUTS or even better ( we know that it's hard to be, but who knows). I am sure that FIUTS will miss you." - Andjela Cickovic (YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

"Thanks for everything that we experienced with you in Seattle and I hope that the new job will bring you more fun and experience that this one. Remember that this is not your end, it's just a new begining! Hugs and kisses." -Una Dangubic (YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

"Dear Alison, I wish you all the best at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and I know you will 'move mountains' there as well!" - Sabina (Teacher, YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

"Alison, you're wonderful person and I'm so happy because you were part of my YLP experience. All the best on your new work-place, we love you!" - Hana (YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

"Thank you so much for being nice and tolerant organizator for us, YLP spring 2014 team! I will always remember you for good knowledge and skills you learned us. It was always a lot of fun with you, and it's nice to know a person like you! I hope that you will like your new job and I wish you everything the best, Alison!" - Malika (YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

"Hello Alison! SUSI was a great part of my life and you were one of its integral part. Your ever smiling face makes everyone around you smile and be happy too. Your energy is electrifying and your gentle and curious attitude is very welcoming for memorable conversations. I love how meticulously you work and have learnt quite a few things from you about that. Also, will never forget the way you say 'okay'! Haha. All the best with the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation and all other future endeavors of yours. Much love!" -Medha (SUSI India)

"Congratulations for your new job! I wish you the best and I hope you will have fun at your new job, just like you had before. We are all going to miss you and for us you are always going to stay a part of the FIUTS family!" -Rastko (YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

"Hi Alison! Thank you for being so supportive to all the YLPs, answering all our questions and helping make Seattle feel like home. All future students who will be working with FIUTS will have missed an opportunity to have such a lovely person in their lives!" -Lana Krilic (YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

"For Alison, I just wanted to tell her, that she was an amazing support during our time in Seattle as an exchange students and that she is a person who helped me to go through difficulties that I had in my project. I think her hard work paid off and congratulate on her new job!" -Lana Kurtagić (YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

"I had the privilege of working with you to prepare for CulturalFest, and I'm so grateful to have had your patient and kind guidance! You're one of the sweetest people I've met in FIUTS, and I'm really sad to see you go. At the same time, I'm still very happy for you that you're moving on to do something else that's really cool too! You've left behind a legacy here, and we'll always remember you :) I hope we stay in touch! Truckloads of love." -Abby (UW student, Singapore)

Hi Alison! Thank you for your great work at FIUTS. Your ambitious personality and hard work gave us an amazing experience in YLP with Azerbaijan and lead to a further development of our leadership skills.We cherish those precious moments. Congratulations and good luck on your new job at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. -Ibrahim (YLP with Azerbaijan)

Hi Alison Thanks for being a good friend and good luck in your new job. We love you. -Edina (Teacher, YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

It was wonderful working with you, Alison. Best of luck on your new adventure! -Elena (former FIUTS staff)

"Well, I would like to say goodbye, thanks for her kindness and I appreciate back when she was there for me during my emotional crisis... Well, I wish her to stay strong, tolerant and positive, no matter what happens. And yeah, it was an honour working with her." -Said (YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

"Dear Alison, you are a wonderful person, and I'm very proud of you. Thank you for supporting me and being a good friend. Best of luck." -Ena (YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

"Alison love youu.. my lady of Seattle.. very good luck for your next destination. Feel sorry for next SUSI participants who will going to miss your warm take care Keep smiling as usual always are... " -Afia (SUSI Bangladesh)

"Dear Alison, thanks for everything you've done for us, you've been first FIUTS member that I've met, and for me you will always be part of this team. Thanks for everything one more time, and take care" -Maja (YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

"Thank you for making our lives a little bit better by giving us the pleasure of knowing you, I hope that you will keep sharing your positive energy and inspiring ideas with all the new people that you meet and spend time with. Good luck on your new job" -Emina (YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

"I'm really happy that you were in my life, you're the kindest person I've ever met and I'm really thankful for everything that you and everyone from FIUTS did for us. I hope you'll be happy at your new job and hope to maybe see you again sometime in the future." -Adna (YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina)

As you can see from these messages, Alison has made a huge difference in the lives of students from all over the world. Everyone who has worked with her is so grateful for everything she contributed to FIUTS, and we all wish her the best in her future career. Thank you, Alison! -Your FIUTS Family

 Some of the YLP with Bosnia and Herzegovina participants also made videos!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_9VgbBiV4Y&feature=emb_title

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=B0AbjtG_CHo&feature=emb_title

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_dwdHIulwo&feature=emb_title