Rotary International Youth Exchange student Kilian Schwabe (in cowboy hat) with his most recent host family, the Riggs. From left to right, they are Duane Rigg, Kaleb Rigg and Lisa Rigg.

For many years, the Rotary Club of Silver City has participated in the Rotary Youth Exchange program, which has brought high school students from Europe and other parts of the world to Silver City and has sent New Mexico students overseas.

During the 2014-15 school year the club hosted Kilian Schwabe, who came to Silver City from Germany. He is shown in the accompanying picture (sporting a cowboy hat) with his last host family, the Riggs, with whom he stayed during the last few weeks of his year here.

These student exchanges often have a profound impact on the students who participate in them, and many characterize them as life-changing experiences. At the end of his stay in Silver City, Kilian told one Rotary Youth Exchange coordinator:

"When I first came to Silver City in September 2014, I was curious and dubious about Silver City. But now that I am leaving, I am so thankful that I was sent to Silver City. It was the best year of [my] life and I will totally miss my friends, Silver High School, my [host] families and the life in New Mexico. I am thankful to Rotary and to my family in Germany for giving me this awesome opportunity. I will never forget Silver City, NM."

Kilian told club members that his best experiences during his year in Silver City included participating in athletics at Silver High (basketball and track), going to the State competition, the prom and a West Coast trip for exchange students arranged by Rotary.

The Rotary Club will be welcoming a new exchange student in August, and the club is sponsoring an outgoing New Mexico exchange student from Las Cruces who will spend a year in Finland.

Families interested in hosting an exchange student or enrolling a family member in the exchange program should contact Sunny Yates at (575) 313-2200 for further information.