BUDAPEST– On October 7, 1100+ J-1 Alumni gathered at the Bálna event center in Budapest to celebrate the close of another successful summer. Decked out in a prom-themed dress code, the attendees ranged from first-year alumni to those who completed programs over a decade ago. 

In addition to Hungarian alumni, four other countries were represented at the celebration: Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and the United Kingdom. Approximately 100 program staff attended the reunion, including representatives from Smaller Earth USA and CENET.

Live music & a DJ kept the dance floor packed throughout the evening; a photo booth and raffles were also crowd favorites. An event highlight occurred when Smaller Earth CEO, Bastian Weinberger, addressed the crowd before a video played showcasing summer highlights from the newest alumni, freshly returned from their J-1 exchange programs in America.

Special thanks to our partners at Smaller Earth & their Hungarian office (Camp Leaders/Resort Leaders) for coordinating the reunion, as they have done for over 11 years. CENET served as a first-time event sponsor. Several event photos courtesy of Smaller Earth. Thank you for including CENET in such an amazing event! 

CENET strives to inspire a safer, more prosperous and compassionate world through international education and cultural exploration. For more news and updates about CENET, please visit our Facebook Page.