DAIS Students Join Global Peers at the NAE Student Summit 2026 in Houston

From 22–28 June 2026, students from across the Nord Anglia Education family gathered in Houston, Texas, for the NAE Student Summit 2026. Representing Dalian American International School, Alisha, Selina, and Max joined their peers from around the world for a week of leadership development, collaboration, service, and social impact learning.

Using Their Voices with Purpose

The summit opened with a focus on values-based leadership, as students explored how to use their voices with purpose through storytelling, listening, and meaningful communication. Through interactive workshops, they developed skills to engage others, surface challenges that often go unseen, and bring people together around important issues.

Dialogue in Action

As the week progressed, the focus shifted to dialogue in action and global connectedness. Students participated in sessions led by global experts, exploring how to engage in open and thoughtful conversations, understand different perspectives, and examine the systems and behaviors that shape the world around them. During Peer Talks, student leaders shared the social impact initiatives they are leading in their schools, exchanging ideas and learning from one another.

Students also learned about Nord Anglia’s Social Impact Grants program, which supports student-led initiatives addressing the Sustainable Development Goals, and explored how young people can strengthen their voice and agency within their school communities.

Learning Through Service

A highlight of the week was an afternoon of volunteer service at the Houston Food Bank, where students supported the organization's work in the local community. The experience reinforced an important message of the summit: meaningful impact often begins with simple actions.

Beyond the workshops, students built friendships and strengthened connections with peers from across the Nord Anglia family through shared experiences and activities throughout the week.

Turning Ideas into Action

Later in the week, the summit moved to the British International School of Houston, where students began developing capstone projects linked to the Sustainable Development Goals. Working in school teams, they designed solutions aimed at making hidden impacts more visible in their own communities. Through feedback sessions and collaboration, they refined their ideas and strengthened their proposals.

The summit concluded with capstone presentations and reflections, giving students an opportunity to celebrate what they had learned and achieved together while exploring Houston and deepening their global connections.

As they returned home, Alisha, Selina, and Max brought back new perspectives, stronger global connections, and a deeper understanding of how young people can create positive change in their communities and beyond.