District 5280 Youth Exchange Students Have Arrived

The Rotary Club of Beverly Hills is hosting Aurelien M. Romain, 18 year old, from Bierges, Brabant Wallon, Belgium. He is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Wavre, Brabant in District 2170. Aurelien's host parents for the first part of the year are Michael and Shelley Blumenfeld; Michael is the President- Elect of the Beverly Hills RC.Aurelien is attending Beverly Hills High School.

The Rotary Club of El Segundo is hosting Leonardo M. Casali, 16 years old, from Merate, Lecco, Italy. He is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Merate Brianza in District 2040. Leonardo's host parents for the first part of the year are Ann and Glen Coles; Ann is Co-Chair of International Service for the El Segundo RC. Leonardo is attending El Segundo High School. As you may recall, El Segundo hosted Iane Carolina Loureiro from Paranavai, Brazil two years ago and this year they are sponsoring the only outgoing youth exchange student, Jacqueline Partlow. Her involvement in Rotary Youth Exchange is the direct result of the El Segundo RC hosting Iane.

The Rotary Club of Los Angeles, otherwise known as LA5, is hosting Carlos Jose M. Bachiller Bueno, 16 years old, from Camarma de Esteruelas, Madrid, Spain. He is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Henares in District 2200. Carlos's host parents for first part of the year are Paul and Melody St. John.  This is Paul and Melody's ninth or tenth student they have hosted over the years.  Carlos is attending Pacific Hills School in West Hollywood.

Finally, the Wilshire Rotary Club of Los Angeles, Home Club of District Governor Scot Clifford, is hosting Maria Catalina Guzman Lopera, 18 years old, from Sogamoso, Boyaca, Colombia. She is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Sogamoso in District 4290. John and Gale Miron are the first host parents of Catalina. She will be hosted in future months by Cecil and Sandy Worthington and in the spring by President Rob Barnes and his wife, Kathleen. Catalina is also attending Pacific Hills School.

So there you have it. Four Rotary Youth Exchange students, the best from each of their sponsoring Districts, in District 5280 for one academic year. Please make an effort to meet these students over the course of their year here (they will be at the Affair to Remember). They are each exceptional individuals and are always anxious to talk about their home cities and countries and share their culture, just as we are anxious to do the same about Southern California.

Please consider hosting a future Youth Exchange student. It is an experience you will never forget