Davis selected by People to People Student Ambassador program
By:Susan Van Dongen
MANSFIELD — Tory Davis, an eighth-grader at Northern Burlington County Regional Middle School, has been selected by the People to People Student Ambassador program to visit Australia this summer as one of a 26-member South Jersey delegation.
Students are chosen for the program based on school recommendations, references from teachers and other adults, and personal interviews with a local screening committee.
The student delegation will be accompanied by two area teachers chosen as delegation leaders after an extensive screening and interview process.
Anthony Klock, a teacher at Voorhees Township Public Schools, and his wife, Marcia Klock, a teacher at William Allen Middle School in Moorestown, will lead this local delegation.
During the 20-day tour, the student ambassadors will learn about the Australian government, economy and culture through briefings at embassies and ministries, discussion with industry and trade officials, and site visits to headquarters of international organizations.
They also will participate in meetings with youth clubs, tour major historical sites and attend performances featuring ethnic music and dance.
They’ll cover nearly 1,800 miles. Among the stopovers are Cairns, in northeastern Queensland; Sydney, on Australia’s Sunshine Coast; locations in the Outback; and the Great Barrier Reef.
The student ambassadors will also spend a few nights with Australian host families, who will include their American guests in everyday activities, enabling the students to gain a first-hand understanding of how Australians live and work.
To prepare for their international adventure, the local delegation is attending monthly orientation sessions, learning about the history and goals of the People to People program, and studying Australian government, lifestyles and culture.
They also will be briefed on the logistics and responsibilities of international travel, and discuss opportunities to raise money to help offset the cost of the trip.
In addition, before the trip, the students will prepare photo albums to share with people they meet in Australia. During their trip they also will be asked to keep journals that can be used for high school credit.
Young Americans have served as Student Ambassadors since 1963. As a result, many former student ambassadors have been inspired to pursue international careers in business, law, government service and teaching.
Alumni of the program have talked about their overseas experience, and how the maturity and world awareness they gained helped with college admissions. They have also spoken about the new appreciation for life in America they gained after their trips abroad.
The Student Ambassador Program is operated under the auspices of People to People International, a non-political, private-sector organization founded by president Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 to further international goodwill and understanding.
An international network of People to People chapters in nearly 60 American cities and 35 countries assists program administrators in arranging home stays and education activities.
In December another local student will be heading down under to participate in a totally different activity. Bordentown Regional High School Student Council member Sarah Phipps has been selected to participate in the International Student Representative Council conference, to be held in Sydney this winter.
The criteria for selection included grades, background in Student Council (including state and local representation) and community service.