Exchange students absent but program prevails

Each year, about 9,000 students ages 15 to 19 participate in the exchange program through Rotary International. The program includes over 100 countries.

To begin the process, a Rotary Club member interviews student candidates to determine if they are a good fit for the program, according to Youth Exchange Officer/Counselor Ms. Victoria Harpster, who works with the Milton and Warrior Run areas.

She added the candidates should be outgoing, not afraid to try new things, flexible and open to new experiences. She said qualified students then choose the top five countries they would like to travel to, but she noted that some hosting countries require a certain level of language proficiency.

Ms. Harpster said Rotary also tries to find at least two host families every year, but they were unable to find any in Milton this year. Potential host families are also interviewed by a Rotary member, and any member of the household over the age of 18 must go through a background check, she added.

Host families must also have space and funds available for an extra student in the house, according to Ms. Harpster. Students are allowed to room with another child of the same gender, but they are not allowed to be in a room of three or with the opposite gender.

The Rotary Club finds host families by asking principals and guidance counselors for suggestions, Ms. Harpster said. She also spoke to groups at the schools as well to recruit host families, she added.

According to Ms. Harpster, when a student participates in the exchange program, they pay for their own air fare and insurance through Eastern States Student Exchange (ESSEX). She added that the host family then pays for room and board, along with food. A counselor from Rotary is required to check in with the exchange student at least once a month, but they usually speak more than that, she said.

“If a student wants to be an exchange student, they need to contact me, and I will guide them through the process,” Ms. Harpster said. The student and their parents get interviewed and then fill out an application on the Rotary Club website, she added. According to Ms. Harpster, the student must attend four informational meetings in the State College area.

According to Ms. Harpster, Rotary Club data indicates the number of students participating in the exchange program is steady, but Ms. Harpster, who has worked in her position for eight years, said she believes participation is decreasing. She said she believes it is because of terrorism and the amount of bombings and shootings happening in the world. She added that parents are scared to send their kids anywhere.

Ms. Harpster said no Milton students have participated as exchange students in the last few years. Most recently, Milton Rotary Club put two Milton and one Warrior Run students into the exchange program in 2013, she added.

“I believe that having exchange students in our school gives our students opportunities to learn about other culture. They learn about different experiences,” said Milton Guidance Counselor Ms. Leslie Robinson.

The exchange program “gives [the students] an opportunity to grow as an individual as their concept of the world grows, too,” said Ms. Harpster. “They return with a broader view of the world and a deeper understanding of themselves. They learn a new language and culture. They learn leadership skills, and they build lasting friendships.”