IN THIS SECTION:

Recognizing Local Coordinators

LC of the Quarter

Joann Carlisle
Written by Lisa Fealy, Regional Director

Joanne Carlisle joined Academic Year in America in April of 2012 where she had enthusiastically jumped right in to the Local Coordinator role. She has dedicated her time to spreading the word of the culture of AYA to those around her – communities and schools. She strongly believes in AYA's mission and vision to bring the world together. Joanne has placed a number of students this year, and has done a wonderful job supporting her students.

In a difficult time, Joanne is always ready and willing to help. Despite school hurdles, Joanne has always been very persistent and has kept her head held high! She has also done an exceptional job completing and turning in her paperwork in a timely fashion to help our office stay compliant and complete placements. She is always looking for new ways to broaden her cluster and to show her students what the American culture has to offer. Continually, Joanne has excellent relationships with her families and students! Joanne is a wonderful addition to AYA and I am lucky to work with such a wonderful person!

Student Choice Awards...LC of the Month Raffle!

AYA gives its students the opportunity to nominate their LC at any time during their program for recognition and reward as LC of the Month. Students email AYA with their heartwarming nominations, including some wonderful stories about the great things LCs do, the ways LCs make them feel special, and activities they enjoyed. A committee from AYA reviews the submissions each month and selects one winner each month who receives a $50 gift card and mention here on the AYA website.

In June 2011, AYA pooled the names of all LCs of the Month for 2010-11 in a raffle to receive an American Express gift card valued at $500. The winner selected at random was Sue Schriever of Nebraska! Congratulations Susan. Many thanks to all the LCs of the Month and to the many more who do amazing work with AYA students!

LC of the Month

March 2013

Ed Myers

Ed has been a Local Coordinator with us for 15 years, dedicating so much of his time to ensuring that our students have an unforgettable experience while here in the United States. He makes certain that our students have a great experience and that they feel comfortable reaching out not only to him, by AYA as well. He is a great representative and embodies the role of AYA Local Coordinator and Host Family. We are proud to have Ed a part of our mission and value as an organization!

"He always has time for me to talk and helps me a lot with problems. I visit him almost every second week to talk and have some fun!"
- By Maria from Denmark

"My host dad is awesome and we are having a good time together!"
- Pedro from Brazil

LCs of Previous Months

LCs of Previous Quarters

Previous Hall of Fame Inductees

2011 | 2010 | 2009

2009 Hall of Fame Inductees

Anita Senesac
Region: Indiana
Years in Services: 11+ Years

Anita Quotables - On cultural activities:
"We took a trip that revolved around the theme of Abraham Lincoln. We started out in our city of Fort Wayne, Indiana by visiting the Lincoln Museum. This is a very hands on museum and since many of the students take U.S. History, it helped bring to life some of the things they learned in class. We then traveled to both Kentucky and Illinois to visit the childhood home of Lincoln and to retrace the route he took when he traveled by train during the year of his election. The students were also able to visit the place where he stood to make his famous Emancipation speech."

Christine Gaffner
Region: Indiana
Years in Services: 4+ Years

Christine Quotables:
"Working with the youth of the world in the AYA, FLEX, and YES Programs has opened eyes all around my region to the fact that we are not the only ones in the world. People in my area, schools, and even my own home have a wider outlook on what is going on in the world today."

Marilyn Murchie
Region: Montana
Years in Services: 2+ Years

Marilyn Quotables:
"The most rewarding community and volunteer service for my students has been spending time with the elderly at the assisted living and nursing homes. Though it was somewhat difficult for some, because they had not experienced being around elderly people before, the students found it to be rewarding as they received expressions of appreciation for doing a variety of things with them such as putting nail polish on the ladies' nails, reading them stories, going for walks, helping them with their meals, sharing with them about their countries, and just being their offering them friendship, kind words and smiles."

Sheri Schuster
Region: Idaho
Years in Services: 8+ Years

Sheri Quotables:
"I always try to be involved in both the Host families and students lives. This can mean supporting them in sports activities, family events or just being a shoulder to lean on when they need encouragement. I always try to give them 100%. I have also tried to be a big part of the Orientations we have for all the students. I have always tried to be a supportive Local Coordinator and friend to all my Regional directors and also the AYA Staff."

Tony Barnett
Region: Washington State
Years in Services: 5+ Years

Tony Quotables - On being inducted:
"I've become known in my area as a person who runs a premiere program and I am starting to get people calling me wanting to be a part of our program. Students and families always comment on how they appreciate the ongoing support and availability and the many activities that we provide for our students and families to participate in."