By Jolene Farley
On June 13, Hills-Beaver Creek sixth-grader Adam Finke will leave his home for the experience of a lifetime.
Adam was chosen as one of 15 People to People Middle School Student Ambassadors for the Sioux Falls Area. As an ambassador, he will visit Spain, France, Germany and Switzerland over a period of three weeks.
When asked if he is nervous about leaving his rural Luverne home and his parents, Jon and Sherri, he said, "maybe a little." Adam has flown once before to Disney World in Florida, but this will be a much longer flight.
The People to People delegation leaves the Sioux Falls Regional Airport and flies to New York where they join two other United States delegations, bringing their group up to 45 kids. From there they travel to Madrid, Spain.
Finke and the other delegates will learn about the government, economy and culture of Spain, France, Germany and Switzerland.
They'll learn through activities such as briefing at embassies and ministries, discussions with industry and trade officials, site visits to the headquarters of international organizations, and meetings with youth clubs.
They receive an overview of the cultural heritage of each country during visits to major historical sites and performances of ethnic music and dance.
The itinerary includes visits to Madrid, Toledo, Cordoba, Granada, Seville and Barcelona, Spain; Zurich and Geneva, Switzerland; Freiburg, Germany; and Paris, France.
The Alps is on top of Adam's list of things to see on the trip, but he is also excited about touring the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. He hopes to meet some visiting dignitaries.
"I thought it would be fun and a good experience," he said about the trip. He hopes to learn more about different cultures and how people live in different countries.
Adam will visit host families in each country who will include him in their everyday activities.
Each Student Ambassador is selected on the basis of recommendations, including school references and personal interviews with members of a screening committee in their local community.
Adam was notified in October he was chosen as an Ambassador. He is not sure who recommended him for the program.
Monthly orientation meetings to study countries the delegates will visit began in December. A report on a different country is due at each meeting, according to Adam. Delegates are trained on how to write in journals, so they can record their experiences.
Jon and Sherri Finke are trying to raise the $5,000 needed for Adam's trip. Sherri's employer, Cargill AgHorizons, has agreed to donate, and Sherri said they will approach a few more businesses but plan to pay the majority of the expense themselves. The $5,000 fee covers airfare and meals.
Young Americans have served as Student Ambassadors since 1963. Many former Student Ambassadors have pursued international careers in business, law, government service, and teaching, according to Pamela Leib, Junior High Delegation Leader for the Sioux Falls Area.
Alumni of the program have said their overseas experience and the maturity and world awareness they gained provide a competitive advantage for university acceptance as well as a new appreciation for life in America.
Outstanding Student Ambassadors are also eligible to apply for future service as interns.
The Student Ambassador program is operated under the auspices of People to People International, a nonpolitical, private-sector organization founded by President 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 educational activities.
Students can obtain high school and university credit through participation in the program and may be eligible for grants.