Youths prepare to be ambassadors

"Life is the art of drawing without an eraser" are words Sisters High School junior Zoey Wavrin felt as an art student in Mike Baynes' art class. This summer she will have the opportunity to experience life without an eraser, creating lifelong memories, on her first trip to Europe as part of People to People International's Student Ambassador Program.

It's a program that allows American students the opportunity to visit foreign countries while learning about other cultures.

The privilege of being in the program is not handed to them on a plate. They have to earn it based on their academic achievements, nominations from adults, or this year for the first time, their peers. To qualify they must pass tests about the countries they are visiting as well as quizzes on appropriate behavior.

Twenty-three students from the Central Oregon district are traveling to Europe this year; 16 are from Bend and Redmond, one from Madras, and six are from Sisters High School. They are nominated by teachers and fellow students based on their academic excellence, leadership qualities, and maturity.

"We don't accept every nominee," said chaperone Midge Rose, teacher at Sisters Middle School. "They need two teacher recommendations, plus a recommendation from an adult who is not their parent. They have to complete forms, answer questions, then we interview them."

Maturity is critical.

"We want someone to be an ambassador to represent the U.S. of A.," Rose explained. "We don't want tourists."

Students and their families must contribute toward the expense of the trip. Most conduct fundraisers.

This year for the first time, the People to People program offers ambassadors the opportunity to recommend other ambassadors to the program. It's called the Global Citizenship Program. The referring ambassador receives $1,000 toward their trip for each recommendation, and the referred ambassadors also receive $1,000 off their trip expense. The referral fee takes the students a long way toward reaching the trip cost of $5,800.

Student ambassador Lauren White recommended four students into the program. Two are from Sisters.

Junior high school student Zoey Wavrin missed an opportunity to attend last year, so when White nominated her she jumped at the chance.

Wavrin is a Camp Sherman resident who attends Sisters High School. Black Butte School English teacher Carol Dixon asked the students to come up with a quote, prompting Wavrin's life-as-art musing.

"I take Baynes' class and like painting with acrylics," Wavrin said.

Baynes was one of the teachers who wrote her a letter of recommendation to help qualify her for the People to People program. Her English teacher, Mrs. Greaney, also made a recommendation.

Wavrin is in advanced placement in U.S. History class, along with fellow nominee McKenzie Cooper, who was also referred by Lauren White.

Wavrin's mother, Pam, talked about her daughter's accomplishments.

"She won the Gold Key last year. It's a Central Oregon art thing," Pam said. "She was in soccer, softball and swimming her freshman and sophomore year and was chosen to be an alternate for the state relay team."

Academic excellence is also a key qualifier for the program.

"Zoey takes honors English and honors math, and took chemistry a year early as a sophomore," her mother stated. "Both McKenzie (Cooper) and Zoey do really well in school and spend a lot of time in sports."

The Wavrins are very proud of their daughter.

"Both Chris and I think it is a great opportunity for her," Pam said. "My husband and I haven't traveled to Europe. I think this trip will give the kids a familiarity that will make it easier for them to travel later."

McKenzie Cooper's parents also see it as an opportunity they never had.

"My parents are excited for me because it's something they've always wanted to do, but never had the opportunity when they were younger," she said. "They thought this would be really good for me."

Of the four countries they visit, England, France, Belgium and the Netherlands, Cooper has her favorites.

"I'm really excited about Belgium and the Netherlands," Cooper said. "Their cultures are so completely different than ours. It will be a neat experience to see things we're not used to."

The students take their role as ambassadors seriously.

"I think you need to have respect for the people around you," Cooper commented, "and just have an open mind when you're on the trip."

Cooper is active in soccer, softball, and for many years, basketball. Cooper feels her participation in the school's health academy is helping to define her future.

"I'm going to keep going with it and see where it takes me," she said.

A teacher nominated sophomore Walker Martin when he was in fifth grade. This is the first time he has been able to participate in the People to People program.

"We didn't want him to go when he was younger," explained his mother, Deanna. "If you're spending $6,000 to send your child somewhere you want them to be old enough to appreciate and value the experience."

Now that Walker is older, he feels that he, too, is ready to go.

"I'm most interested in Belgium because my great- grandpa was born there," Martin said. "I thought it would be really enriching to go back and see where he was born and what it was like for him growing up."

One of Martin's favorite classes is Global Studies, where they are currently studying Greece.