More students than ever heading to sister city, Hanamaki, Japan

 A record-breaking number of Garland County students – 11 in all – will act as ambassadors for Hot Springs and for the United States of America when they depart on September 1 for a life-changing journey to their sister city, Hanamaki, Japan.

2012 student delegates include Cassie Exum, 10th Grade, Lakeside High School; Maribelle Perrigo, 10th Grade, Lakeside High School; Caroline Cole, 9th Grade, Lakeside High School; B.J. Osterberger, 11th Grade, Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts; Abby Dilick, 9th Grade, Lakeside Jr. High School; Cloey Brown, 8th Grade, Hot Springs Middle School; Jarrett Hornsby, 10th Grade, Lake Hamilton High School; Madison Sorrell, 9th Grade, Lake Hamilton High School; Jacob deLinde, 11th Grade, Fountain Lake High School; Grant Williams, 11th Grade, Lake Hamilton High School; and Zachary Seresinhe, 11th Grade, Lakeside High School.

The Sister City Student Delegate Program, sponsored by the Hot Springs Sister City Foundation, has experienced tremendous growth over the past four years. Each year, the program impacts the lives of more Garland County youth. In 2009, two delegates traveled to Hanamaki. This year there will be 13, bringing the total number of young ambassadors to 30 over the past four years. The large size of this year’s delegation is largely due to community support provided through a benefit reception held at Gallery Central earlier this year by local philanthropist and strong Sister City Program advocate Dorothy Morris.

Thirty-four students from across Garland County applied to be part of the 2012 student delegation. The twenty students advancing to the interview stage were asked questions varying from “Why do you want to go to Hanamaki?” to “What do you have to share if you are chosen as a delegate?” It was challenging for the Education Committee to choose thirteen delegates from so many highly qualified applicants.

Clifton Coleman, Intervention Specialist at Hot Springs School District’s Langston Aeronautical and Environmental School, will serve as group chaperone for the second consecutive year. Coleman worked closely with the students throughout the summer to assist them in preparing for their journey. The group spent time getting to know each other, forming a bond that common experiences in Japan will strengthen. They prepared a performance to share with the people of Hanamaki. Each will play a role, depending on their gifts and talents.

Part of the preparation is making sure the students understand the true meaning of “‘Tis better to give than receive,” a philosophy they will see their Japanese counterparts live day by day.  By sharing of themselves and their culture, they gain a more accurate understanding of the Japanese culture and of the commonalities as well as differences that are part of today’s global society .

Besides the students, this year’s 30-member Hot Springs delegation includes 10 private citizens, traveling on their own funds; two musicians, whose travel is funded by Hanamaki choral music supporters; four business leaders, whose visit is enabled by the Leading Asia: Renewing the U.S. and Japan Sister Cities Network exchange funding initiative awarded through Sister Cities International; and Sister City Program Coordinator/International Visitors Liaison Mary Neilson. For information, contact Neilson, 545-6960, hotspringssistercity@yahoo.com .