Students from the American Exchange Project tour the Logan County History Center’s Transportation Museum Thursday. (EXAMINER PHOTO | SHARYN KOPF)
The application gauged his interests by asking questions like “would you want to live on a farm?” Wood replied, “yes,” which affected his placement. He was then assigned to the Logan County group, but he stated he didn’t care where he went as long as he had a chance to meet new people.
OneWood, who plans to serve on a mission for his church before becoming an electrician, convinced his family to host two participants the week before he headed to Ohio. was a graduate from Lake Charles, La.; the other from Scranton, Pa.
Another visiting student, ZiQi Situ, comes from the Los Angeles area of Chinatown. The 17-year-old intends to study biochemistry at the University of California, Davis, in the fall.
“Yesterday while driving from the airport, I kept looking out of the window and everywhere was really green,” Situ commented. “It’s not like that in California.”
Part of the American Exchange Project group who toured the Logan County Historical Center (LCHC) on Thursday, pause on the stairs of the Orr Mansion. Pictured, from front, are: Hannah Phillips, ZiQi Situ, Michael Dilbone, Tanner Green and Talmage Wood. LCHC docent Louise Norris, top right, served as their tour guide. (EXAMINER PHOTO | SHARYN KOPF)
Sally Stolly, director of administration for the BL school district, got the ball rolling after seeing a segment about the project on CBS News Sunday Morning in October 2023.
“Because of my interest in the Rotary Youth Exchange, I applied to be an exchange manager for AEP so Benjamin Logan High School grads could have the opportunity to travel,” she said.
According to Stolly, the 10 participants have a full itinerary of activities during their week in Logan County, including seeing the Ohio caverns, enjoying a day at Marmon Valley Farm, and spending an afternoon at the Columbus Zoo and Zoombezi Bay.
Three local families opened their homes to the exchange students.
This summer, the six Benjamin Logan graduates who have or will go on an AEP trip are:
• Michael Dilbone—Jasper, Texas, June 12-19.
• Madelyn Harmon—Paris, Texas, June 12-19.
• Samantha Niswonger—West Jordan, Utah, June 19-26.
• Libby Siefring—Sioux Falls, South Dakota, June 19-26.
• Claire Rhodes—Kilgore, Texas, July 24-31.
• Hannah Phillips—Blue Earth, Minn., July 24-31.
Talmage Wood of Salt Lake City and ZiQi Situ of Los Angeles explore the toy room at Logan County Historical Society Thursday. (EXAMINER PHOTO | SHARYN KOPF)
