.: Student Exchange Program

2003 - 2004

Two members of the OPEN Board of Directors met the students that were selected for the current school year, at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois. The agreement between the Sister Cities allows that the Smila students purchase round trip tickets from Kiev, Ukraine to Chicago, Illinois and return. Our sister city organization is required to provide transportation costs here in the United States.

The students arrived at O'Hare airport on Monday August 25, 2003. They spent the night in the Chicago area and traveled to Newton, Iowa on Tuesday, August 26, 2003. On Wednesday morning they completed the registration process at Newton Community High School.

The American families and the students are busy getting acquainted. There will be a dinner (Pot Luck) to welcome the students to the Newton Community.

The student's names are Ruslana Gayvan and Maryna Korotych. Ruslana is staying with the family of Rose and Bruce Trapp and Maryna is staying with the family of Lisa and Robert Anderson.

Ukrainian flag

Two (tired) students when
they arrived in Chicago Airport

The student at the Welcome Center after
they crossed the Mississippi river entering Iowa