March 8, 2019 – Midland-area high school students interested in the life-changing opportunity to participate in the Midland-Handa Sister City Student Exchange program have until Sunday, March 31 to complete their applications.
Three Midland students will be selected to travel to Midland’s Sister City of Handa, Japan for a three-week experience from July 19 through August 9, 2019. During their stay, students will live with three Japanese host families to experience day-to-day life in Handa, visit local and regional government and places of interest, and participate in both group and family-centric activities. Airfare and travel accommodations will be provided for the selected applicants.
To be considered, candidates must live and/or attend a school system in the City of Midland and be entering their junior or senior year of high school in the fall of 2019. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 on a 4-point scale and should have a genuine interest in Japanese culture, international travel, and new experiences. Fluency in speaking Japanese is not required.
The online application is available at www.cityofmidlandmi.gov/studentexchange. Students requiring paper applications should contact the City at 989-837-3307. All application information, including three references, must be received by Sunday, March 31, 2019.
Since the Midland-Handa Sister City Student Exchange began in 1982, more than 85 students from both communities have traveled to Japan and the United States to learn about each other’s culture, experience new ways of life, and better understand the connection between the two Sister Cities. Midland students travel to Handa in odd numbered years and, during even numbered years, Handa students are hosted by Midland residents.
For more information on the Sister City Student Exchange, visit www.cityofmidlandmi.gov/sistercity and click on “Student Exchange”.
