Mission teens selected as international ambassadors
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ST. IGNATIUS — The People to People movement was founded in 1956 on the idea that by traveling to different countries and interacting with people, ordinary citizens, no matter their age, can promote world peace and cultural understanding.
St. Ignatius High School freshman Courtney Heath and sophomore Patrick Eichert will soon join the ranks of those making an impact when they and other People to People student ambassadors take a three-week visit to Italy and Greece.
This will be Eichert’s first experience with the program, but Heath has been with the program since sixth grade.
Heath’s impact on the world started three years ago when she was nominated to become a People to People ambassador. Students are either nominated or they may apply to the program after an interview and submitting three letters of recommendation.
Heath has traveled as a leadership ambassador to Washington, D.C., and as a community service ambassador to New Orleans five years after Hurricane Katrina. While in the nation’s capital, Heath had the chance to tour the monuments and learn about America’s history. When she traveled to Louisiana, she had a more hands-on experience by helping fix up a school destroyed by the hurricane.
“Even five years after, you could still see the devastation,” Heath recalled.
She admitted to having jitters on her first trip but said the second time was better and now she feels comfortable after being involved with the program for three years. But the upcoming trip will be the farthest she has traveled from home.
“I’m really excited and a little nervous,” Heath admitted.
This summer’s trip will be the first international experience for both Heath and Eichert, who are also cross-country teammates. They both agreed having a traveling partner is a plus as they immerse in new cultures and countries.
“I’m a big believer in travel,” said Heath’s father Greg Landon. “It broadens your whole perspective globally and where you live. It’s a great opportunity to visit another country.”
The two St. Ignatius students won’t be the only students from Montana. Heath and Eichert are traveling with a Missoula delegation to Rome first, where they will meet up with students from Great Falls.
Eichert still can’t believe he will spend three weeks of his summer in Greece, a place he’s always wanted to visit.
“I’ve only been to Texas and Washington,” Eichert said. “It seems pretty crazy that I’m actually going there. I really wanted to go to Greece and see all the cool things they have there.”
Eichert shared he is especially excited about getting the chance to stay with a host family and submerge himself in a different culture and language.
According to Heath, students will also have the chance to restore a sea turtle habitat, an experience that she is especially looking forward to. The two need to raise $7,000 each to cover their expenses and have been conducting bake sales, selling coffee, babysitting and planning spaghetti feeds and silent auctions.
“A lot of the people (chosen to go) have to fundraise their tuition, and they are very self-driven people,” Heath said. “I feel pretty honored to be (one) of them.”
