The DoDEA Student Information System (DSIS) Family Portal will be unavailable from Wednesday, June 25 at 2:00 pm ET until Thursday, July 10 at 2:00 pm ET. Parents and students will not be able to access the system or register students during this time. Registration will resume when the system is reopened on July 10.
As the 2024–2025 school year drew to a close, the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Europe reflected on another successful season of student activities, offering military-connected students across Europe opportunities for growth, learning, and leadership. From the performing arts to STEM competitions, leadership training, and emerging programs, DoDEA Europe’s diverse portfolio of events provided life-changing educational experiences that stayed with students long after the final bell rang.
The Fine Arts events this year highlighted the talent and creativity of students through numerous opportunities to explore visual and performing arts. Events like the Creative Connections symposium, held from November 17–22 in Hübingen, Germany, brought together 192 students for expert instruction and a culminating performance and gallery. Similarly, the Jazz Festival in Homburg, Germany (February 3–7, 2025), brought 73 students together to learn from Grammy Award-winning jazz artist Darmon Meader. In the realm of theater, DramaFest, held April 7–11, 2025, in Wiesbaden, Germany, united 94 high school students for collaborative performances and workshops. Additionally, the Honors Music Festival, held March 9–14, 2025, in Hübingen, Germany, provided 153 top-tier musicians with the chance to rehearse with elite conductors.
DoDEA Europe’s STEM initiatives gave students hands-on experiences in engineering, coding, and scientific research. STEMposium in Wiesbaden, Germany (December 2–7, 2024), gathered 146 students for an immersive engineering challenge. Similarly, the FIRST Tech Challenge (February 20–22, 2025, Kaiserslautern, Germany) brought together 78 students to compete in robotics, blending design, strategy, and teamwork. The Junior Science & Humanities Symposium (February 26–28, 2025, Groß-Gerau, Germany) challenged 51 students with original STEM research, while MATHCOUNTS in Wiesbaden, Germany (March 18–21, 2025), tested the problem-solving abilities of 43 middle schoolers.
Leadership development was a key focus this year, with programs like the Junior Leadership Seminar (December 9–14, 2024, Hübingen, Germany) offering foundational training to 180 middle school students. The International Student Leadership Institute (February 23–28, 2025, Oberwesel, Germany) brought 71 high school students together in an international peer collaboration to develop real-world leadership skills. In global engagement, Model United Nations sent students to either Prague or The Hague in January 2025 to engage in international policy simulations, while the Model Senate (March 10–14, 2025, Wiesbaden, Germany) gave 132 students a unique opportunity to debate and understand civics.
DoDEA Europe’s drill competitions also showcased student dedication, with events like the Army, Air Force, & Navy Drill Championships highlighting the discipline and teamwork of military-connected youth. Competitions took place in locations across Europe, including SHAPE, Naples, and Ansbach, providing opportunities for high school students to demonstrate their skills in regulation and exhibition drill.
Through Future Business Leaders of America (April 7–11, 2025, Hübingen, Germany) and Educators Rising (February 18–21, 2025, Homburg, Germany), high school students honed their leadership skills and explored future careers. Additionally, the Culinary Arts Festival Europe (April 22–25, 2025, Spangdahlem, Germany) offered 35 students the opportunity to combine culinary expertise with entrepreneurship in a real-world restaurant challenge.
Throughout the year, DoDEA Europe’s student activities program brought together over 2,200 students and staff, traveling a total of 2,859,724 kilometers. To put that distance in perspective, that was enough to go around the Earth 71 times or make nearly four trips to the moon and back. These experiences had a lasting impact on students, providing them not only with new knowledge and skills but also lasting memories of teamwork, leadership, and creativity.
Looking forward, DoDEA Europe remains committed to providing military-connected students with opportunities that shape their future and inspire them to make a positive impact on the world. As the school year wrapped up, the focus stayed on nurturing the next generation of leaders, innovators, and artists—students who will no doubt go on to make a difference in the world.
