She may technically be a junior but Anja Krupchenko is an elite student.
Nearly two years ago, she began the application process through Future Leaders Exchange (FLEx), which allowed her to study this last year at Russellville High School.
Hers was among more than 15,000 applications from students in former Soviet Union countries. After four rounds of tests and interviews, Krupchenko was one of the chosen 220.
"It was incredible," she said about when she received the call. "I had been waiting so long and it was such a small possibility."
FLEx has covered her flight, monthly expenses and school supplies. In return, through 4-H, Krupchenko has shared presentations about her country - Russia - at programs, schools and local club meetings.
"It's pretty awesome to share about your country's peculiarities, what you know as a native person," she said.
And now she knows a lot about the United States, which she is eager to take back with her next month.
Although Russian schools teach English beginning in second grade, the phrases and vocabulary used in America is quite different, she said. Celebrations like Thanksgiving and Christmas were good memories. And she's found foods, like peanut butter and a variety of candy flavors, that she will miss.
It's a mixed feeling to be leaving in a couple of weeks, she said. Although she looks forward to going home, she said she will be sad to leave her new friends and host family - the Michitschs.
The Michitsch family had hosted three students previously from Spain, Hong Kong and Germany.
Krupchenko spent the first half of her time in the U.S. with the Jungmeyer family. It is common for international students to have more than one host family in a year, she said.
When Krupchenko arrived at the Michitsch home, she found pictures and notes from their previous international students, which made her feel welcome right away.
A good host family is essential for a good experience abroad, Krupchenko said. When a student leaves the familiarity of their way of life and the people he has known, the right host family can make him feel comfortable, she said.
Hannah Michitsch, who graduated Saturday from Russellville, said all of the international students who have stayed with her family have felt like siblings. One has come back to visit and another will host her sister Izzy.
Krupchenko hopes one day the Michitschs will visit her in Russia, so she can share her culture with them firsthand.
Coming from an urban area in Russia, rural Russellville was quite a change, she said. But she enjoys the peacefulness and beauty of the open spaces and farm life has been fun to interact with the animals.
"I would never think I would enjoy this kind of life," Krupchenko said.
One of the most important pieces to international exchange programs like this is understanding.
"It's very important now with lots of problems and issues among different countries and people," Krupchenko said. "You see you're (all) just human being(s). It's an opportunity to see the world from a different side."