UW’s Noah Riffee Chosen to Represent U.S. at 2025 World Expo in Japan

Noah Riffee, a University of Wyoming international studies student from Laramie, has been selected as a Youth Ambassador by Sister Cities international (SCI) for the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, Japan.

Nearly 90 Youth Ambassadors, ages 19-27, were selected from 1,500 applicants to serve as exhibition guides and cultural representatives for the 184-day expo, which begins later this month and runs through October. Each student took part in cultural training and leadership development in Fort Worth, Texas, before departing for Japan in either March or July for their respective assignments.

World Expos -- also known as World’s Fairs -- are global exhibitions where countries come together every five years to highlight their latest achievements in innovation, technology, culture and sustainability.

With the theme of “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” the 2025 Osaka World Expo is expected to draw 28 million visitors. The USA Pavilion -- where Riffee will be assigned -- will feature artists, musicians, speakers and performers, highlighting American food, music and culture.

“When I first heard I was accepted to this program, I was shocked. As a small-town Wyomingite, I would never have believed that I would be representing the United States at a giant global event,” Riffee says. “I am incredibly excited for this opportunity to represent my amazing state and country. We were chosen to represent the best of the United States, and I am thankful for my mentors, professors and family members for encouraging me to apply and to engage in international opportunities across campus.”

Riffee is a past Gilman Scholar recipient and participated in an exchange program to the University of East Anglia in Norwich, United Kingdom, during the spring 2023 semester.

The Youth Ambassadors are split into three cohorts: full-term, for those who will be at the expo for the entire duration; spring, for those who will be there from April to July; and the fall cohort, from July to October. Riffee is part of the fall cohort and will join his fellow Youth Ambassadors in July.

Some of the Youth Ambassadors duties are to guide visitors through the pavilion, including delegates from across the globe; provide knowledge about the U.S.; and ensure visitor safety and comfort.

“We also will do cultural exchange events,” Riffee says. “Past ambassadors have hosted events such as ‘Coffee with an American’ or ‘Learn English Slang,’ among many others.”

With decades of experience fostering cross-cultural understanding and collaboration between cities worldwide, SCI has a network of more than 400 U.S. member cities and thousands of global partnerships. Cities typically pair through shared characteristics and develop exchange programs through sports, art, music and trade.

“These young leaders will represent the diverse, innovative and ambitious spirit that America’s youth embody,” says Ricki Garrett, SCI president and CEO. “They are our next generation of leaders, diplomats and ambassadors.”

About Sister Cities International

Founded by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1956, SCI is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that unites hundreds of thousands of citizen diplomats and volunteers in more than 120 countries in the spirit of global friendship and mutual understanding. For more information, visit www.sistercities.org.