12/1/2007 - AFS recognized for 50 years of student exchanges

Hutchinson Leader
By Lesley Christianson

Elaine Black has more than 50 years of documentation and memories pertaining to the AFS program in Hutchinson. That could pertain to her rather impressive collection of books containing Hutchinson Leader clippings and photographs of students — or her own, long memory.

And speaking of 50 years, the program recently received recognition at the AFS central states conference in Wayzata for being one of the oldest chapters in existence, not only in Minnesota, but the country. AFS began as an international exchange student program in 1950 and by 1956, Hutchinson had its own version up and running. Black has been involved since day one and before.

Black calls the exchange students “little ambassadors,” young diplomats in bridging cultural, national and religious divides. She said the students changed their host families as much, if not more, than their experiences here changed them. And with a history as long and rich as Hutchinson’s in the program, that is a lot of lives changed.

“AFS encourages the community to take in these students, too,” she said. “It’s a lot of exposure to a lot of different countries. And it all goes back to the motto: ‘Walk together, talk together all the people of the world and then and only then will there be peace.’”

Black said to keep the program operational, AFS is always looking for support from volunteers and those willing to become host families. For more information about the program call Terry Hess at (320) 587-8676. For Black, call (320) 587-3299.

(Lesley Christianson is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader.)
christianson@hutchinsonleader.com