Monche Jackson-Gilmore

Three area middle school students have been selected for what they are calling the trip of a lifetime. The three students are headed for Europe to participate in the People to People program as student ambassadors.

Norma Gilmore of Varsity Circle in Lehigh, who is a spokeswoman for the local group, said some 45 students applied for the program that will provide a trip to several European countries for 20 days beginning June 18. The three students will fly out of Southwest Regional International Airport in Fort Myers.

The three local students among the 15 selected in Lee County to participate in the People to People program are Monche Jackson-Gilmore, Taylor Nalewaik and Katie Ali.

The students who applied also had to supply letters from teachers and or coaches from their schools about the students’ leadership qualities, teamwork ability plus his or her maturity and recognition of personal responsibility and then a group selected those who will go on the trip.

But the youngsters have to come up with around $7,000 for the trip. They will be accompanied by an adult to oversee 10 students at all times technology is also being used to locate a student if he or she should walk away from the group.

Taylor Nalewaik

“I feel very good about my son, Monche going,” Gilmore said. Monche attends Varsity Lakes Middle School in Lehigh. And he is busy at work planning fundraising events to pay for the trip. His mother said after being accepted, he had to come up with $400. There are also scholarships in aid to help pay for the trip for qualified students in the People to People program.

Monche began with selling luminaries in his neighborhood at Varsity Lakes and raised $450. And As Dec. 8, Monche had raised $1,100 for the trip, Gilmore said.

The story is similar with the other students who have already begun to solicit for funding to help pay for the trip. Some plan garage sales and other projects to raise the $7,000.

Monche said this week he is selling boxes of Krispy Kremes donuts for $8 and that if anyone wants to buy a box to call him at 239-690-1551.

When the students return at the end of July, they are required to make presentations to the people who helped them.

Katie Ali

While in Europe students will keep daily journals about what they have seen and what they have done that day. They’ll also be taking photos with their digital cameras.

The student ambassador program was begun by the late President Dwight Eisenhower and today, it is being operated by his daughter, Mary Jean Eisenhower, who is president and CEO of the student ambassador program.

One thing brought up by Monche’s mother is that the group will be attending Normandy along the coast of France where the American invasion pushed Hitler out of France during World War II. Many soldiers were killed in that invasion and today there is a large cemetery at Normandy with American soldiers interred there.

“He’s going to have his camera with him and if anyone who has a member of their family buried there, let us know and he will look up the grave and take a photo there,” he said.

Katie Ali of Gateway said she was honored to have been selected.

“It’s a great thing and I am really looking forward to it,” she said. Katie has begun raising money and has close to a thousand dollars so far. To help Katie financially, you can call 239-313-9919.

The third student, Taylor Nalewaik attends Varsity Lakes Middle School. You can call the family to donate by calling 239-910-8449.

For more information on the program, you can also visit Peopletopeople.com.