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| By Michelle Symington MetroWest Reminder Assistant Editor WESTFIELD Katrina Reinholz, a sophomore at St. Mary's High School in Westfield, is hoping to travel to Australia through the People to People International program this summer and is looking to the community for support. She is hosting a spaghetti dinner fund-raiser on March 4 at St. Mary's High School to benefit her trip. In order to participate in the program, she will have to raise $5,200 or pay for the trip out of pocket. The cost covers airfare, lodging and transportation. Laura Reinholz, Katrina's mother, said her daughter received a post card in the mail last fall telling her that she was nominated for the People to People program and to this day, they are not sure who nominated her. She added that Katrina could have been nominated because of her academic grades, by another student ambassador or by a teacher. Laura said that she and Katrina looked into the program and attended an information night to learn more. There, the two saw a slide show about the program and the costs. The next step was to register online and go through an interview process. Katrina was interested, applied and heard that she was accepted to the program just before Christmas. "It all happened within six weeks," her mother said. People to People International was founded in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. According to the program's website (www.ptpi.org), "the purpose of People to People International is to enhance international understanding and friendship through educational, cultural and humanitarian activities involving the exchange of ideas and experiences directly among peoples of different countries and diverse cultures." Laura explained that the program is much more than fun trip. She said that the children do not just tour zoos and other tourist spots they visit government buildings, meet government officials and sometimes sit in on a government session. "She is excited and I think it will be a very good learning experience," Laura said. She added that some of the children going on the trip with Katrina have participated in the program before. "I am very proud," she said about her daughter being chosen for the program. She said she is not sure how many students actually applied, but there were about 800 at the first information night. Laura said a number of meetings take place before the trip so that the parents can become more comfortable with the program and so that the students get to know each other before traveling. She added that she has spoken to a number of parents who have sent their children on the trips and they told her it is a wonderful "growing up experience" for the children. "It seems like a very good program and I am excited for her," Laura said. "She is kind of nervous going that far." The students will go to Australia for 18 days and will travel the country from the north to the south. Laura said she believes that promoting unity "with all the stuff going on" recently will be a positive experience. In addition to traveling with the group of students, Katrina will stay with a host family for a few days to experience the daily routine of a family in Australia. "It is a small part [of the trip], but it is interesting to see how a family lives there and to forge friendships," Laura said. While traveling with People to People, the students also have the opportunity to earn educational credits for both high school and college, she added. "It is very educational and I think it is a good thing," she said. Katrina will travel to Australia July 16 through Aug. 2. Katrina said she is excited about the trip, but is also a little nervous and scared. She said the long flight and being "that far away" makes her nervous. She added that she does not know anyone else going on the trip, but she will have a chance to meet them before they leave. She also said that she has spoken to a student who has participated in the program, who said she had a lot of fun. "I am excited because it is something not a lot of other people have the chance to do," Katrina said. "It is nerve-wracking because it is something new and I don't know what the outcome will be." Katrina has already hosted one fund-raiser for her trip she was Santa. She explained that she wrote letters to children from Santa to those families that were interested for a small fee. She said she is not sure of the exact amount she raised from the letters. The spaghetti dinner fund-raiser will take place March 4 from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. at St. Mary's High School. The dinner will include spaghetti, salad, bread sticks, dessert and a beverage. The fund-raiser will also include a silent auction. Laura said she is looking for people to donate items for the silent auction and interested donors can bring the item the night of the event. Anyone who purchases a dinner ticket before Feb. 22 will receive one free silent auction ticket. Tickets are $10 for adults; $5 for children ages 6 - 12; and children under 6 enter free. To purchase a ticket, send a payment, including the number of people attending to Laura Reinholz, 191 Joseph Ave., Westfield, MA 01085. Checks should be made payable to Katrina Reinholz. Tickets will also be available at the door. Anyone interested in sponsoring Katrina for her trip to Australia can call Laura at (413) 562-9371 to obtain a sponsor sheet that allows donors to send their contribution directly to People to People International in Katrina's name. |