World language foreign travel scholarships awarded
Emily Lowe, Olivia Giorlandino, and Thea Hickey pose with certificates in honor of their travel scholarships.
Three students from the junior and senior classes are the recipients of travel scholarships from a program that began five years ago in memory of foreign language teacher Jeanne Arathuzik.
“The Jeanne Arathuzik Memorial Travel Scholarship is in honor of Jeanne in order to promote what was important to her,” Spanish teacher Carla Steele said.
Two students, senior Olivia Giordiono and junior Emily Lowe, will be traveling to Spain and Italy on a ten-day excursion during April break. Senior Thea Hickey will be spending approximately ten days as a foreign exchange student in France and then will be travelling on to Paris.
Criteria for selection are that the scholarship winner must be a world language student travelling with a world language teacher. The student is also required to write a well-constructed essay of no more than 500 words on how travel will enhance their World Language study and why they believe they deserve the scholarship.
“Money for the scholarships is raised at the Algonquin 5K road race,” said Steele. “Sponsors and donations also provide money to the fund.”
“Everyone who has an opportunity to travel while in high school should,” said Giordiono.
“I wasn’t thinking about why I chose to learn Spanish in sixth grade,” said Giordiono.
Now she is glad she pursued Spanish.
“It is more diverse and where I want to travel in the world, Spanish is used.”
Hickey was awarded the scholarship for her “stand out” academics and support in organizing the study abroad program. She, along with twenty other students, will be living with host families during April break.
According to French teacher Lauren Osephchuk, this spring will be the first time when students travel to France as foreign exchange students.
“I am mostly excited about living with another family,” said Hickey. “I am a little nervous; nervous because I might try to speak something and not know how to say it.”
Hickey’s family hosted a French exchange student in October and she will be going to their home.
Another recipient, Lowe, will travel to Spain and Italy. This will be her first time visiting Europe.
The award winners were presented with certificates and a check on January 16, 2014.
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