Wednesday, March 27, 2024
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Serving Kosciusko County and parts of Elkhart, Marshall & Noble Counties Know Your Neighbor . . . . . . . . 2➤ Nappanee Area News . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Vol. 53, No. 40
Milford (574) 658-4111 • Warsaw (574) 269-2932 • Syracuse (574) 457-3666
INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR — Sheila Claassen and Christina King, local coordinators for International Cultural Exchange Services, took 10 exchange students from around the world to Siesta Key, Fla., for four days in early March. Pictured from left are Maria Silvola, Finland; Mario Zamorano, Spain; Theo Hauber, Germany;
114 W. Market, Warsaw, Indiana 46580
Guillermo Sanchez, Spain; Gabriela Pablodor Tolosana, Spain; Elena Paganoni, Italy; Sonia Bertoli, Italy, Bruna Santos, Brazil; and Marco Mazzette, Italy. The students are spending the year at various high schools across the region. Photo provided by Sheila Claassen.
Program seeks fami families lies to host By KEITH KNEPP Staff Writer
international students
Imagine being a teenager again. Now imagine traveling hundreds, maybe thousands of miles from everything and everyone you know to live for 10 months in a foreign country with a family whom you’ve never met. It seems daunting, doesn’t it? That’s exactly what thousands of high school kids do each year when they take part in an student exchange program. Many of those students come to northern Indiana, where they
are welcomed with open arms by strangers, who are ready to show them what everyday life is like in the United States. “Nationwide, we place over 1,200 students each year, including 120-130 in Indiana,” said Sheila Claassen, local coordinator for International Cultural Exchange Services, one of the organizations, which helps to bring students to America. “We try hard to get all of the students placed.” Claassen said the program has students wanting to
LEARNING SOMETHING NEW — Exchange students Aimar Legaz from Spain and Michele Calderone from Italy participated in soccer and diving during this school year. Diving was a new sport for both of them. They are pictured with their host parents, David and Shannan Vincent, Nappanee. Photo provided by Sheila Claassen.
come for a five-month or 10-month term. Occasionally, there are students who are not chosen by families to come to the U.S. Some of those try again the following
year, but for some it is their only chance to fulfill their dream. Students come from a variety of counContinued on page 2
IN THE CITY — A group of exchange students recently enjoyed a day in Chicago. Among those pictured front to back are Maria Silvola, Finland; Gabriela Pablador Tolosana, Spain; Elena Paganoni, Italy; Maria de las Heras Lucena, Spain; Sheila Claassen, local coordinator; and Mattia Valentini, Italy. Photo provided by Sheila Claassen.