Lind-Ritzville High School selected as top American Field Service school

Lind-Ritzville High School has maintained a strong foreign exchange student program for several years. Students from countries across the globe have come to experience American culture at its finest.

Due to the positive reports that students and collaborators have given the school, LRHS has been recognized as one of the American Field Service’s top schools in the nation.

American Field Service (AFS) is a foreign exchange student program that connects high school students to international culture throughout the globe.

Being designated a top school in the nation by AFS is an honor—one that our administration is proud of.

The AFS program has been connecting students for 65 years across a total of 50 countries. Each year they select schools that they feel provide excellent experiences for exchange students.

According to afsusa.org, “Schools honored with this annual award have partnered with AFS in a variety of ways to foster global citizenship through intercultural learning—from hosting international students and sending students abroad to working with AFS-USA to incorporate intercultural and experimental learning material into their curriculum.”

Around 60 schools were selected in the entire nation; LRHS joined Henry M. Jackson High School of Mill Creek to represent Washington state. As a reward for being selected, AFS offers a student from each school a $1,000 scholarship towards any of their 2015 study abroad programs.

All high school students from the winning schools are eligible to apply and students interested should contact LRHS counselor Christy Peterson. The deadline for the application is April 1.

Regardless of the scholarship, being selected as a top AFS school in the nation is an honorable achievement.

Tonya Muro, AFS Director of School Outreach and Educational Partnership explains, “Today’s AFS is moving international educational exchange into the 21st century. Together with schools, AFS is brining greater global awareness and key college and career preparation opportunities to students and teachers.”

Muro continued, “We’re proud to be partners with these [top] schools and look forward to future collaboration with their excellent administration and staff in bringing intercultural learning opportunities to the students and the greater community.”

LRHS counselor Christy Peterson directly sees how exposure to culture influences the students.

She said, “I think our students are intrigued by foreign exchange students and they are widely accepted at our school. It seems like the students that I’ve met from other countries that currently attend our school fit in well with their new environment. They get a taste of what it’s like to be in a small school, as well as a smaller town.”

Regarding the American experience for foreign exchange students, LRHS’s smaller size is an advantage.

Peterson said, “I think Lind-Ritzville offers a wonderful rural experience for many who would not have otherwise done so… Although our community is small, it is important to see that our farmers provide resources for many other communities worldwide.”

“I feel honored that our school was recognized by AFS,” Peterson concluded. “Having worked in other schools, I feel that Lind-Ritzville High School is one of the most accepting of foreign exchange students.”

Being recognized as a top AFS school in the nation is a great honor, proving that LRHS is a positive environment for students to expose themselves to new cultures.