Lilia's Going Away Party!!
The speaker at the club meeting Tuesday August 6th was one of our own - our Rotary Youth Exchange student Lilia Kingbird who will be doing her junior high school year in Ecuador. Lilia is leaving for Ecuador later this month so the club celebrated with members of her family. She took the opportunity to practice the presentation to her host club about her heritage, family, high school, friends and home. We also all enjoyed the cake!!
Lilia is Ojibwa-Dakota-Comanche beginning her life on the Red Lake Reservation in north central Minnesota northeast of Wahpeton. She is proud of her native heritage and participates in powwows as a jingle dancer. She is also a top student at Wahpeton High School "The Huskies" and runs cross country for them. Her father (Jason -Ojibwa) is a teacher at the Circle of Nations School in Wahpeton a school for children grade four through eight from tribes from all over the United States. Her mother (Winnona - Dakota-Comanche) is the business manager. Her presentation includes their home in Wahpeton with snow all around; likely a novelty for the Ecuadorians. Included also were pictures of commerce and industry in the area and her friends.
Members asked her questions about her training by the District and Central States as well as what she was most looking forward to and what she knew of her host family.
After she returns from Ecuador she will complete her senior year in high school and then hopes to be admitted to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis with the ultimate goal on graduation from Annapolis of going to law school to eventually be a Marine Officer in the Judge Advocate General's office (JAG).
President Darcie presented her with one of our club banners to carry to her host club.
