San Manuel Miner
They came from near and far, and brought a world of experience to the local community.
On Saturday, June 27, 2015, the San Pedro Valley Lions Club in Mammoth hosted a group of foreign exchange students, treating them to a taste of local cuisine and a lot of hospitality.
The students were part of the Lions C. Kirby Smith International Youth Exchange 2015. Youth from around the world apply to be accepted in the program. They must speak English and the parents pay for their trip. They spend a month in the states where they are hosted by a family and they travel throughout the host state chaperoned by Lions Club members. The group stops at different Lions clubs where they meet the local members, eat with them and are entertained.
In Mammoth, the students presented President Rudy Romo with an autographed photo of the exchange students. They ate a Mexican food pot luck lunch provided by the members. Each of the students spoke to the Club about themselves and their goals. President Romo then presented the students with an American flag and a certificate making them honorary members of the San Pedro Valley Lions Club. Margie Felix of Mammoth was also made an honorary member in memory of her husband Raymond Felix.
The keynote speaker, San Manuel High School graduate Manny Chavez III, spoke about his goals and accomplishments at San Manuel High School.
Tony Hyland, the incoming President of the Gilbert Lions, and his wife Jean were the chaperones for the group. Tony said that he and his wife “were happy to volunteer with young people who appreciate learning about America.”
The exchange students will be traveling throughout Arizona. Planned stops include a trip to San Xavier Mission; Nogales, Sonora; Tombstone; the Grand Canyon; Morenci Mine tour; and tubing down the Salt River.
The exchange students and their home countries are: Ann-Sophie Blabneck, Germany; Bianca Hotto Fraga, Brazil; Debora Hannus, Finland; Máirín McMahon, Ireland; Juliette Danguy, France; Karoline Kramer Odense, Denmark; Manu Byttebier, Belgium; Golyan Gabor, Hungary; Nicolas Rodigari, Italy; and Wouter Slot, the Netherlands.