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The San Pedro Valley Lions club hosted the 6th Annual Luncheon for the C. Kirby Smithe Lions International Youth Exchange program. The program supports international students in an exchange program that allows them to learn about American culture in Arizona and share their culture with host families and Lions clubs around the state.
The students were welcomed by Lions President Susan Sanchez. Following lunch, each student introduced themselves and spoke a little bit about their background. Chief of Police Rudy Lujan then spoke to the students and gave them each a Mammoth Police Department patch. The students also received a gift of a scarf, towel and hygiene items courtesy of the San Pedro Valley Lions.
This year there were nine students from Europe and one from Brazil. They will be traveling around the state for 18 days, visiting interesting areas with planned activities and meals with different Lions clubs. Their itinerary includes stops in Tucson, Globe, Fort Thomas, Safford, Morenci, Bisbee, Tombstone, Nogales, AZ & Nogales, Sonora, Wickenburg, Sedona, Flagstaff, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Holbrook, and Mesa.
This year’s students and their countries are: Gustavo Rota Zanella, Brazil; Luca Ghersetti, Italy; Anna Poczonyi, Hungary; Beline Van de Zande-Lucas, France, Leia Thibert, Belgium; Juan Navarez Carrasco, Spain; Jessica Newton, British Isles; Kseniya Ivanova, Russia; Tor Erling Gjolsjo, Norway; Alma Weber, Germany. The Camp Staff were Jack and Pat Johnson from Flagstaff.
John Hernandez lives in Oracle. He is retired and enjoys writing and traveling. He is active in the Oracle Historical Society. He covers numerous public events, researches historical features and writes business/artist profiles.
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