Nearly 100 Fort Worth students recently completed a vigorous selection process and have been selected to represent the City of Fort Worth as Ambassadors to Fort Worth’s international partners.
Youth Ambassador exchanges provide a global education for students giving them the opportunity to explore history and experience languages, culture and arts of the country they visit. Students live with host families to develop an understanding of the culture and its traditions during exchanges that range from 9 to 14 days.
The selection process includes written essays, teacher recommendations, report cards and in-person interviews conducted by the teachers who lead the delegations abroad. This year’s Ambassadors represent students from FWISD, Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD, and several private schools. Scholarship assistance of over $100,000 are awarded annually ensuring a diverse group of students and teachers who will represent Fort Worth.
On exchanges students develop relationships with students from other countries and gain essential skills to be successful in a global society. “Selection of Youth Ambassadors is a very competitive process and we feel we have an outstanding class to represent Fort Worth and the U.S. A. this year,” said Dr. Staussa Ervin, Chair of the Exchanges and Outreach committee of Fort Worth Sister Cities International.
The exchanges are scheduled for March, June and July to China, Italy, Hungary, Germany, Japan, and Mexico. A complete list of Youth Ambassadors can be found at https://www.fwsistercities.org/fort-worth-youth-ambassadors-2016/
Ms. Forrest is a teacher at Fort Worth Country Day and has been involved with Sister Cities for many years. She has led the Jr. International Leadership Academy for the past ten years and hosted students from Nagaoka, Japan. She also served as the delegation leader to Japan for the prestigious Harashin scholars program in 2015.
Ms. Oliynyk has served in several leadership positions on the youth board and traveled to several sister cities including Guiyang, China and Bandung, Indonesia. She was also chosen as the recipient of the Sister Cities International Youth Volunteer of the Year award which was presented in Minneapolis, MN at the national conference in July 2015.
Three prestigious youth scholarships were also presented including:
Henry Chao and Zoe Nichols-Payne were recognized as this year’s Rotary International Scholars. These two ninth grade students will develop and organize a service project to be conducted at a school in Guiyang, China in June 2016.
The Women’s Policy Forum of Tarrant County in partnership with Fort Worth Sister Cities International are sending a delegation of top women in leadership for an impactful visit to Fort Worth’s sister city of Toluca, Mexico October 28-November 1.
The delegation consists of: Patricia Alridge, John Peter Smith Hospital; Patricia Cheong, United Way of Tarrant County; Margaret DeMoss, retired public health professional; Judith Harman, community volunteer; Hilde Horchler, community volunteer; Julie Johncox Siglinger, JP Solutions; Cynthia Johnson, Courage and Renewal North Texas; Cathy Kyle, community volunteer; Elizabeth Lawrence, Museum of the Americas; Tracy Marshall, Fort Worth ISD; Chelsea Marshall, World Affairs Council of DFW; Danielle McCown, Fort Worth Sister Cities International; MaryAnn Means Dufrene, Susan G. Komen of Greater Fort Worth; Cynthia Miller, Fort Worth Chamber; Deborah Peoples, community volunteer; Ann Rice, community volunteer; Ronda Stucker, community volunteer.
Toluca, Mexico is Fort Worth’s closest Sister City. Signed in 1998, this partnership has resulted in many programs such as: middle, high, and university school partnerships; municipal and economic forums, as well as trade missions; monarch butterfly tourism; culture, language, and mentoring programs; university interns; and police training programs.
