Kreutztrager
The East Alton Rotary Club District 6460 is sponsoring Katie Kreutztrager to study abroad as a Youth Exchange Student.
Kreutztrager will spend a year in Linares, Chile, where she will have a host family and support from the Rotary Club Linares District 4355. Rotary Youth Exchange provides an opportunity for more than 8,000 students to share their culture, embrace a new one, and help foster global understanding.
Kreutztrager, the daughter of Tim and Debra Kreutztrager of Roxana, has been an active student at Roxana High School and is in the top 7 percent of her class. She was the junior class vice president, president of the Rotary Interact Club, a member of the National Honor Society, Peer Leadership, Book Club and has been on the cross country team, girls basketball team and was in three high school theater productions. She is also a member of Adventure Scout Troop 7004.
“My goal for the exchange is to become fluent in Spanish, learn about another culture, and grow as a person,” Kreutztrager said. “I am so thankful for the East Alton Rotary Club for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. All the Rotarians are wonderful. Lori Palmer, Jennifer Lewis, and Club President, Rhonda Pluester helped me so much.”
It has been a yearlong process to prepare for the year abroad. Central States Youth Exchange sponsors monthly events. During her junior year, she had the privilege of spending weekends with in-bound students from all over the world.
“I have already learned so much and made amazing friendships,” Kreutztrager said.
Kreutztrager will leave Aug. 14 and return in July 2015.