Officials of the Crown Prince’s International Scholarship Program (CPISP) met yesterday at the Court of the Crown Prince with officials from college preparatory schools in the United States, who are visiting the Middle East to explore means of cooperation with educational institutions in the region and to promote the benefits of boarding schools in preparing students at the secondary school level for the demands of university life abroad. CPISP Director Dr. Cynthia Gessling met with Associate Director of Admissions at Kent School (Connecticut, USA) Mr. Nick Wilbur, and Assistant Director of Admission and Financial Aid at Mercersburg Academy (Pennsylvania, USA) Mr. Mark Schindler. She pointed to the role of boarding schools in contributing to the overall personal development of students, in addition to developing their academic skills. Dr. Gessling affirmed that the CPISP places scholarship recipients from governmental schools into preparatory schools in the United States or boarding schools in the United Kingdom for a period of two years to obtain either an American High School Diploma or to complete their A – Levels, before they apply to university, in order to strengthen their English language, writing, and research skills, and to adapt to their respective educational and cultural environments in preparation for university. From their side, the preparatory school officials praised the CPISP and the caliber of its scholars, and expressed their keenness to draw in outstanding students from Bahrain and the Middle East. They noted that the student bodies at their respective schools included a diverse range of international students from various countries, allowing for opportunities to form long lasting relationships and networks. They also affirmed their aim to create a well-rounded experience for students in order to develop their personal and social skills, in addition to their academic capabilities. They affirmed that they offer a wide array of courses and programs which include various foreign languages, pre-engineering, robotics, sports, music, and arts, in addition to standard courses required for attaining an American high school diploma. They thanked the CPISP for their warm reception and wished all of Bahrain’s students success in their academic endeavors.