When Galesburg High School student, Alice Greene, starts the 2023-2024 school year she won't be entering the halls at 1135 West Fremont Street. Alice will travel to Japan to study abroad for the year thanks to an opportunity she has been given by the Galesburg Rotary Club, specifically the T.J. Coffman Memorial Scholarship.
Alice is currently a member of the Interact club at GHS. Interact is a service organization that is sponsored by the Noon Rotary Club in Galesburg. Under the direction of Mrs. Robinson, Interact Advisor at GHS, Alice began the application process to apply for scholarships to allow her to study in Japan.
The in-depth application process has many different steps to complete, including a paper application and interviews held at local and national levels. Alice recently attended a Rotary Camp in Springfield, Illinois where she was able to make connections with other students who are pursuing similar trips abroad.
Alice will be traveling to Japan in August and will be hosted by the Rotary Club of Minokamo, which has provided Alice with tuition, room & board, and a monthly allowance. The Rotary Club T.J. Coffman Memorial scholarship will also assist Alice while she is in Japan. Jennifer Coffman-Lasarz presented Alice with the scholarship on behalf of the Coffman family.
Alice is eager to learn more about the culture of Japan when she arrives. She will share her time with three different host families during the year. Although Alice is a little anxious about her trip she says the kindness and support she has already received is helping to ease her mind. Alice will have a full class schedule and looks forward to improving her Japanese. She has learned a few key phrases to get her started when she arrives.
Alice would like to thank her parents and would love to thank the Galesburg Rotary Club and all the people who have given her scholarships to make this trip possible.
We hope to gain and share exciting stories from Alice next year that could be known as "Alice in Japan".