This summer, two St. John’s School students will represent not only their school, but also their country, as they participate in the People to People Ambassador Programs. Eighth grader Lexi Thomas and fifth grader Stefan Weston will take part in this prestigious program. Founded 50 years ago by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, People to People seeks to bring young people of the world together to promote direct communication, greater understanding, and international peace.

People to People sponsors two curricula — one for Student Ambassadors and one for Sports Ambassadors. Stefan will travel to western Canada in July with his Student Ambassador contingent, and Lexi will go overseas to Holland as a basketball Sports Ambassador.

It’s quite an achievement to be chosen to participate. First, students must be nominated either by a teacher, former ambassador, or from the organization (based on standardized tests scores). Students must submit letters of recommendation, answer questions about why they want to participate, and attend a personal interview.

Once accepted, the preparation begins. As a Student Ambassador, Stefan met monthly for six months with his group to discuss Canada’s history, current events and culture.

“We’ve had journal assignments and current event assignments about the United States and Canada,” Stefan said. “We look in the newspaper or Internet, give a short summary of the event, and then answer questions about how this would impact a U.S. visitor to the country or someone coming to our country.” Stefan wrote about acid rain in Canada and the number of people dying in car crashes in the United States. He also worked on a team project about Canada’s art, and his group is doing a community service project.

Lexi’s preparations as a Sports Ambassador have been more physical than academic, although she also wrote a paper on Holland. “Each week we have a different set of workouts to do,” she explained. Such workouts are good training for the two basketball practices and two games that she will play each day while in Holland for the Youth Friendship Games.

She also has reviewed materials on athlete nutrition, strength training, leadership styles, character, and sports psychology to ready herself for the competition. Lexi, who has been playing basketball year round since the second grade, will compete against teams from across Holland and Europe.

So why participate in the People to People program? “I thought it would be a good learning experience, look good on my record, and help me to go to a good college and get a better education,” said Stefan. “I hope to learn about the people and what they do that’s different than us, and about the different culture.”

“I think it will be a good experience for me,” Lexi added. “I hope to learn more about myself and about people in different places. And I think I’ll be more well rounded after I get back.”

Lexi’s preparations have already had an impact on her. She won first place for her informative original oratory on sports democracy in St. John’s speech contest this year. Here’s an excerpt from her speech:

“The sports program and associated scholar program sponsored by the People to People Program provide a medium to put young people in a situation where they can share their feelings, exchange ideas, and compete against each other in a sports arena where they can become friends. That knowledge and perspective is one of the most powerful tools ever found to promote world peace and understanding. When participants in the People to People Program return to their own countries, they can share with their friends what the people and countries they visited were really like. Not from the point of view of some textbook, but from personal friendships made. Sharing that first-hand knowledge with others in our countries is like planting seeds that will grow into “Peace Plants” all over this world. The more interaction we have with other countries on an individual basis, the greater the chance some day we will truly become one world.”

St. John’s School wishes Stefan and Lexi the very best on their adventures abroad this summer. We look forward to them sharing their knowledge with us when they return.