Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Three local middle school students have been selected to participate in the People to People Student Ambassador Program.
Brenna Good, Mark Grossnickle and Joey Woodling will visit Australia this summer as student ambassadors of the United States.
The students will learn about the government, economy and culture of Australia through embassy briefings, discussions with industry and trade officials, and meetings with youth clubs. They will also receive an overview of Australia's heritage as they visit historical sites and see performances of ethnic music and dance.
As part of their experience, students will spend time with host families. This enables them to gain a first-hand understanding of the ways people live and work in other cultures.
Each student ambassador is selected on the basis of recommendations, including school references and personal interviews with a screening committee. Once students are accepted into the program, they prepare for their overseas project by attending orientation meetings and studying background material on the places they will visit.
Brenna, a student at Edgewood Middle School, is the daughter of John and Denise Good.
Mark, a Lakeview student, is the son of Dr. Bruce and Jeanne Grossnickle.
Joey, also a student at Lakeview, is the son of Charles and Sherry Woodling.
The student ambassador program is under the auspices of People to People International, a nonpolitical, private-sector organization founded by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1956 to further international goodwill and understanding.
Young Americans have served as student ambassadors since 1963. Students can obtain high school and university credit through participation in the program and may be eligible for grants.
A network of People to People chapters in 70 American cities and 24 countries assists program administrators in arranging homestays and educational activities.
