Youth & Scholarships
Youth Exchange 2023
We are so excited to be able to bring back the Youth Exchange program!! This year we have 3 girls visiting Vandalia from March 24th-April 17th.
Annika Neuman, Jenna Mueller, and Emmi Beuschel will arrive on March 24th at the Dayton Airport at 11:59pm. For all you night owls, you’re invited to join us at the airport to welcome in our new friends. ;-)
The 3 host students are Raygen Escalante, Kierra Pope, and Isabelle Stankiewicz.
We would not be able to have the youth exchange program without the hard work from our members and volunteers at the Oktoberfest each year. We would like to invite members, friends, and former exchange students to a few events while the students are here:
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Welcome Dinner - March 27th at 6pm – Christy’s Pizza
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General Membership Meeting and Farewell Dinner – April 12th at 6pm The Studio at Jan’s Flower’s - 344 E National Road - Dinner and drinks provided
Please let me know if you are able to make it to the April Membership meeting/dinner!
Kelly Pike 937-689-3940
Youth Exchange
Each spring, students from Lichtenfels, Germany visit Vandalia for 3 weeks. They stay with a high school student and their family (host family) and attend Butler High School. Then, in the summer, the Butler student visits Licthenfels to stay with their German counterpart and his/her family, for 3 weeks.
The host families involve their student in their daily lives and activities. The families often share their background while also learning about their visitor's culture.
If you are interested in becoming a host family, please contact Kelly Pike - kellypike19@gmail.com .
Scholarships
Three scholarships to assist with first year college tuition will be offered, by Sister Cities of Vandalia, to students who are residents of the Vandalia Butler district, graduate from Butler High School or an accredited private high school, or are dependent children of sister Cities members. Eligible applicants shall have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25 and have completed two or more years of a foreign language. The Walter L. Lakin Memorial Award will be in amount of $2,000 and two other scholarships in the amount of $1,000 may be awarded each year.
Criteria for selection includes:
(1) involvement in international organizations or activities,
(2) participation in school and community organizations and activities,
(3) future personal and academic goals, and
(4) financial need
Preference will be given to students whose experience or goals foster positive international relationships.
Applicants must provide:
(1) one letter of reference (from an employer, service organization administrator, coach or teacher)
(2) an essay stating how the student has helped support international friendship and understanding,
(3) an official high school transcript.
Winners will be announced at the annual Senior Awards Night and by letter. Scholarship checks will be written to both the student and the educational institution to cover tuition costs.
Sophomore Year Scholarships
Scholarship winners may request an additional $1,000 award for the sophomore year if they have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25 at the end of the first year of study. Request for this additional support may be made by application (click the pdf icon below) and must include a transcript of the entire first year. Requests must be received by July 1. Please send applications to vandaliasistercities@gmail.com .
