To allow for more students to apply for the 2015 Handa-Midland Sister City student exchange program, the application deadline has been extended.
Students who live in the city of Midland and/or attend school within the city are invited to apply for a three-week student exchange opportunity in Midland’s Sister City of Handa, Japan.
Two or three Midland students will be selected to travel to Handa for the exchange, which is scheduled to take place during a three-week time frame on or about the following dates: July 21 - August 11, 2015. Students will receive airfare to travel to Japan and will stay with Japanese host families during the exchange.
Candidates must live in the city of Midland and/or attend school within the city and be entering their junior or senior year of high school in the fall of 2015. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0. Candidates should have a genuine interest in the Japanese culture.
Applications are due at Midland City Hall or by email to erichart@midland-mi.org by 5 p.m. on Friday, May 1. Application forms can be found on the City of Midland website (cityofmidlandmi.gov/sistercity), or in hard copy at City Hall or the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library.
The Handa-Midland Sister City Committee will interview candidates by early May with final selections being made shortly thereafter.
Since the Handa-Midland Sister City Student Exchange began in 1982, more than 80 students from both communities have participated in the program. The exchange was established to provide an opportunity for the youth of Handa and Midland to learn about each other’s culture.
Traditionally, Midland students travel to Handa in odd numbered years, and during even numbered years, Handa students are hosted by Midland residents.
The Handa-Midland Sister City Student Exchange has been generously funded over the years by various local business and civic organizations in addition to the City of Midland. The program is administered by the City of Midland and the Handa-Midland Sister City Committee. The committee is comprised of Committee Chair Tina S. Van Dam and members Stephanie Baiyasi, Dick Dolinski, Randi Kawakita, John Metcalf, and Libby Richart.
For questions or more information, contact the City Manager’s Office at 989-837-3307.
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