June 14, 2019
Kansas to Host Four Academic Year Students for 2019-20
Kansas 4-H will be participating in the U. S. State Department’s YES (Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study) Program for the first time this coming year. This program is part of States’ 4-H Academic Year Programs (AYP). It involves students from countries with a significant Muslim populations, and operates similarly to the FLEX program which States’ 4-H International Exchange Programs has been offering since 1991. Kansas hosted two FLEX students in 2018-19. For 2019-20, three YES students have been selected by Kansas families. They are from Kosovo, North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The families, who have completed the selection process to date, their counties/districts, students, students’ countries and local coordinators are as follows:
- Dan & Tamra Clawson, Meade Co.--Leke Zequiri, Kosovo, Cristine McPheter
- Don & Renee Beesley, Wild West Dist./Stevens Co.--Marina Hoihi, North Macedonia, Nancy Honig
A third YES student from Bosnia and Herzegovina has been selected by a 4-H family who is awaiting approval to host. Her information will be shared next month.
A fourth student will be joining our Kansas 4-H Academic Year Program. She is the first Academic Year Student from Korea 4-H who will be a part of States’ 4-H Exchanges. Her hosting information is as follows:
- Bart & Susan Hettenbach, Dickinson Co-- Seoyeong Ju, South Korea, Jill Martinson
All four students will arrive in August and stay with their host families through the school year. They will participate in 4-H locally and in county, area, and state 4-H events.