Student Exchange Program

Posted by Richard Mills

HBHS Exchange Student Entertains Rotary

Mild," the Thai exchange student at the Hollis Brookline High School – her full name is Jekita Suhiranyawanit – again on Wednesday charmed the members of the Hollis Brookline Rotary Club with her performance as a popular singer. Attending the regular Wednesday meeting of her sponsoring Rotary Club, Mild's performance of two American and one Thai song took the place of the usual group sing to open the meeting.

Mild is one of 20 foreign students, from 18 different countries, who are attending high schools throughout the southern-Vermont, southern-New Hampshire Rotary district of which the Hollis Brookline Rotary Club is a part. Each year the District hosts for a full academic year 20 to 30 incoming students, and at the same time it sends an equal number of our own students out for a year of study abroad.

The friendships these students forge as they live as full-fledged, if "adopted," members of the three or so host families who take turns housing them during the year last a lifetime. Thus the Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) program is a significant contributor to Rotary's goal of furthering international understanding, peace, and friendship throughout the world.