Addison Trail students thank District 88 Board for supporting student exchange program

During the April 28 District 88 Board of Education meeting, the 15 Addison Trail students who participated in the Addison-Triggiano Sister Cities student exchange program shared with the Board their experiences and highlights of the trip. Students enrolled in Italian 3 honors, 4 honors or Advanced Placement (AP)/college-level classes were eligible to apply. The application process included writing an essay and completing an interview in English and Italian. GPA, attendance, behavior and character/leadership also were taken into consideration. Along with traveling to Italy, chosen students and families had to commit to hosting a student from Italy this past fall. Addison Trail hosted students from Il Cartesio High School in October 2013. The Addison Sister Cities Committee has partnered with District 88 in support of this exchange program.

During the April 28 meeting, students thanked the Board for supporting the exchange program and showed them a video of the trip, which was created by junior Brianna Sitkowski. They said getting to practice speaking Italian and learning about the Italian culture was an amazing and life-changing opportunity they will never forget.

Students who participated in the program are Sitkowski, junior Jonathan Nevarez, junior Stephanie Diaz, junior Alexandra DiSilvio, junior Annina Beltrano, senior Camden Knights, senior Gabriela Calderone, sophomore Daniela Diaz, junior Elizabeth Martinez, junior Karina Medina-Martinez, junior Miranda Mendoza, junior Angela Pitello, junior Garren Schneider, sophomore Susana Silva and sophomore Kamila Tychonowicz.

For more information about the program, go to http://tinyurl.com/m5pj4l2.