FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIDAY, AUGUST 6, 1999
Memorial High School students Ryan Atkins and Charles Acher will spend their senior year in Beijing, China as part of the School Year Abroad (SYA) program. SYA is operated by a consortium of boarding schools. Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, runs the program.
Atkins and Acher are two of 53 students from the United States participating in the program for this coming school year. Both students have studied Chinese since 7th grade at Jefferson Middle School. This is the third consecutive year Memorial students will participate in SYA.
Students will stay with a Chinese "host family" during the school year. They will attend a prestigious Chinese high school affiliated with Beijing Normal University. Their curriculum will include English, Science and classes in Chinese language and culture. They will have American and Chinese teachers.
When asked about the recent cooling of relations between China and the United States due to the US bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade and the congressional report accusing China of stealing US nuclear secrets, Atkins said, "I'm not really worried. Once I get over there my host family will do everything they can to make me feel comfortable. I realize that both countries have to get along better in the future."
Acher visited China during spring break of 1998. The students will depart for China on Friday, August 27.
For More Information Contact:
Public Information Office
545 W. Dayton St.
Madison, WI 53703
608-266-6270
email: newsrelease@madison.k12.wi.us
Last Modified: 1999-08-06
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