Rotary Seeks Students for Exchange Program

Rotary District 7470 is seeking high school students to participate in an overseas exchange program.

District 7470 is Essex, Morris, Sussex and Warren counties and anyone who will be a high school student during the 2012-13 school year is eligible.

According a press release issued by the Rotary District, Rotary Club volunteers administer the program at the local level, to keep costs low for students and their families and providing a safe, nurturing and enriching environment. Rotary has been providing overseas student experiences since the 1920s.

The district has operated exchanges with Spain, Germany, France, Japan, India, Brazil, Argentina and other countries. Students stay with host families, they are treated like a member of the family…their schooling, their room and board and their food are covered by the host family, according to the press release.

Students usually spend their sophomore or junior year abroad so they have at least one year back in their home high school. It is possible for a senior to study abroad, however.

To be eligible, it isn’t necessary to be the child of a Rotarian. Teens must be between 15 and 18 years old and in the top one-third of their class, according to the Rotary web site. They also must possess “common sense, a warm personality, good manners and the ability to mix easily” as well as “able to cope with educational commitments while overseas.”  Students who are involved in student activities, sports, hobbies, youth activities and church affairs are preferred.

Students will speak at Rotary functions when they return home and may do so in their host country.

There are two programs for high school students: an academic year exchange, and a short-term exchange of 3 to 4 weeks during the summer.  

Rotary accepts applications from interested students until Jan. 31, 2012.  Interviews will be conducted during February and March of 2012 with final selections made by the end of March.

A short term program, the Ross Redmond Youth Exchange Program is held between June 28 and July 19, 2012. Two leaders will take 28 students to Japan. They will be met in Osaka by Japanese Rotarians who will be the hosts. The students will visit Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and other southern Japanese cities. They will take a trip to Hiroshima and visit the Peace Memorial Park and A-bomb Museum.

Families are also needed to host students from other countries.

For more information, visit  www.youthexchangenj.org or contact Judy Frank at 973-598-0661 or frankassoc@optonline.net. To learn more about Rotary, visit www.rotarydistrict7470.org

Rotary District 7470 is seeking high school students to participate in an overseas exchange program.

District 7470 is Essex, Morris, Sussex and Warren counties and anyone who will be a high school student during the 2012-13 school year is eligible.

According a press release issued by the Rotary District, Rotary Club volunteers administer the program at the local level, to keep costs low for students and their families and providing a safe, nurturing and enriching environment. Rotary has been providing overseas student experiences since the 1920s.

The district has operated exchanges with Spain, Germany, France, Japan, India, Brazil, Argentina and other countries. Students stay with host families, they are treated like a member of the family…their schooling, their room and board and their food are covered by the host family, according to the press release.

Students usually spend their sophomore or junior year abroad so they have at least one year back in their home high school. It is possible for a senior to study abroad, however.

To be eligible, it isn’t necessary to be the child of a Rotarian. Teens must be between 15 and 18 years old and in the top one-third of their class, according to the Rotary web site. They also must possess “common sense, a warm personality, good manners and the ability to mix easily” as well as “able to cope with educational commitments while overseas.”  Students who are involved in student activities, sports, hobbies, youth activities and church affairs are preferred.

Students will speak at Rotary functions when they return home and may do so in their host country.

There are two programs for high school students: an academic year exchange, and a short-term exchange of 3 to 4 weeks during the summer.  

Rotary accepts applications from interested students until Jan. 31, 2012.  Interviews will be conducted during February and March of 2012 with final selections made by the end of March.

A short term program, the Ross Redmond Youth Exchange Program is held between June 28 and July 19, 2012. Two leaders will take 28 students to Japan. They will be met in Osaka by Japanese Rotarians who will be the hosts. The students will visit Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and other southern Japanese cities. They will take a trip to Hiroshima and visit the Peace Memorial Park and A-bomb Museum.

Families are also needed to host students from other countries.

For more information, visit  www.youthexchangenj.org or contact Judy Frank at 973-598-0661 or frankassoc@optonline.net. To learn more about Rotary, visit www.rotarydistrict7470.org