Our President Elect Patti Gulnac introduced Martina Scattu, our Rotary Exchange Student inbound from Italy since August 2016. Martina shared her thanks and a few things that she learned with meeting attendees.
Most notable to all was the HUGE improvement in Martina's spoken English. Her exchange was, indeed, unique. Martina first lived in Portville with the Worths, all senior citizens, and was transported to Southern Tier Catholic (Walsh) where she was a member of the senior class and studied in the International Baccalaureate curriculum. She experienced death when Mary Kay's father, Jim Worth, passed in January after 3 weeks of illness. PE Patti Gulnac and her high school senior daughter, Tori, welcomed Martina into their home to finish the Rotary Youth Exchange year. That move also presented the opportunity for Martina to move to Olean High School and become a Huskie in the public school. Martina was a member of the Interact Club in both schools. At Walsh she was a Basketball cheerleader. At OHS she was a manager for the HS track team. Martina graduated from OHS with her class on June 25.
This was Martina's last official visit with our club. She leaves the Olean area on June 30 for a month long bus tour of the USA with other Rotary Exchange Students from around the North East. Their itinerary was packed AND impressive. She will have a few short days in the area, August 1, 2, and 3 that she will return to spend with club member, Mary Kay Worth, bookending her year by returning to the home she lived in for nearly five months.
Olean Rotary proudly served in the capacity of hosting Martina and wish her well. Surely, she will visit us in the future. It is a bright one. Martina hopes to pursue a career in medicine!