When international students arrive at Auburn Adventist Academy each year, they bring more than suitcases and school supplies; they bring the world. Through Washington International Student Experience, young people from other countries are finding not only academic opportunities, but also a spiritual family in the Pacific Northwest.
Founded in 2011, WISE partners with AAA and several other Adventist schools to give international students a Christ-centered education and an authentic taste of American life. Today, about 10% of AAA's student body is made up of international students who call the campus home. Others attend sister schools such as Northwest Christian School and Buena Vista Seventh-day Adventist School.
“Many of our students arrive with little or no Christian background,” said Molly Santana, WISE director. “Our goal isn’t just academics — it’s also helping them know Jesus through daily life and community.”
That mission happens naturally in classrooms, dorms and homes. Students are paired with local host families who open their homes and hearts for the school year. “These students become part of our families,” Santana shared. “They come back to visit long after they’ve graduated.”
Lynda Kim, WISE student advisor, sees firsthand how transformation unfolds. “We don’t sit them down for Bible studies,” she said. “But as they experience love and service here, something changes. Seeds of faith take root.” Several students have chosen baptism before graduation, while others return home curious about the God they met at AAA.
In fall 2025, WISE launched its new Pre-Health Pathway, designed to prepare students for future studies in medicine, nursing and allied health. The initiative connects AAA’s strong science and dual-credit programs with Adventist universities such as Walla Walla University, Andrews University and Southern Adventist University, giving students academic momentum and a sense of mission through hands-on service and short-term mission trips.
“The pathway shows students that faith and service go hand in hand,” Santana explained. “When they serve others, they begin to see Jesus more clearly.”
As WISE continues to grow, its leaders are praying for strong communication with partner schools, emotional resilience for students adjusting to life far from home and ongoing financial support. The program is self-funded, and scholarships or sponsorships help make it possible for students with limited means to attend.
“Sometimes a student has the heart to come but not the resources,” Kim said. “When someone sponsors them, it’s life-changing — not just for that student, but for their entire family back home.”
What began as an educational initiative has become a living mission field — one that reaches around the world without leaving campus. “We always talk about sending missionaries,” Santana reflected. “But in this case, the world has come to us.”
To learn more about how you can partner with WISE, contact info@wisexperience.org.
Beyond academics and faith, WISE strengthens social connections through shared experiences like bowling night, helping students feel part of a caring community.
Students enjoy a Sunday outing to Seattle’s Pike Place Market, part of their Pacific Northwest experience.
Molly Santana, WISE director, (left) and Lynda Kim, WISE student advisor, (back) meet with an international student to plan an academic schedule.
Students form meaningful connections with their advisors, who offer guidance that extends beyond academics.
