High school students could get chance to visit Japan

GREATER LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - The city’s planning a trip to the far east – and you could be eligible to come along for the ride.

High school students or recent graduates who live in Tippecanoe County and are interested in traveling to Japan this July as part of the Greater Lafayette Sister City Committee youth trip should apply by March 15.

Students will be picked based upon their interest in Japan, their application’s creativity, their willingness to participate in a fundraising project and their commitment to attend pre-travel trips in May, June and July.

Students will travel to Ota, Japan, as part of the area’s Sister City relationship with Ota, which began in 1993.

Those selected to join in on the trip, tentatively scheduled for July 10 through 19, will be responsible for travel costs, which are slated to be roughly $2,500 and are due by June 15. However, some scholarship funding is available.

Students will stay with host families in Ota, which is roughly 85 miles from Tokyo. They’ll take part in a traditional Japanese festival that takes place at that time. Students will be accompanied by adult chaperones.

“This is a unique opportunity for students to experience Japan in a supervised group, to get to know people from Ota and to learn about their culture,” Greater Lafayette Commerce economic development program manager and Sister City Committee host Lauren Davis said. “The people of Ota are welcoming and excited to meet and get to know young people from our community.”

You can find forms and selection criteria at Greater Lafayette Commerce’s website, at Greater Lafayette Commerce (337 Columbia St.), or by just calling 765-742-4044.