2009-2010 Interact Club Officers and Rotary Members
left to right: Ms. Peg Bollenbacher, Interact Club Advisor, Deb Russell, Van Wert Rotary President,
Camile Harting, Secretary, Q Reynolds, President, Alysha Mays, Vice-President, Jerod Schoonover, Treasurer, Deb Lahmon, Van Wert Rotary, Staci Kaufman, Vantage Superintendent and Van Wert Rotary, Brad Etter, Van Wert Rotary
Trip to Haiti - 2009
Three Vantage students and three staff members ventured to Cap Haitien and Bordes, Haiti for a week- long trip from April 5 to April 13, 2009. The Vantage delegation included students Camile Harting (Health Careers/Crestview), Kayla Collins (Culinary Arts/Van Wert) and Clint Myers (Industrial Mechanics/Lincolnview), along with staff members Peg Bollenbacher (American Studies) and Donna Myers (Preschool). Throughout the week, the Vantage team was able to experience Haitian culture, present some Haitians with American products that are considered rare in Haiti, as well as work together to strengthen the partnership between Vantage and a vocational school in Bordes, Haiti.
Six years ago, after hearing Bordes Superintendent, Marius Turienne, speak to Vantage social studies students about Haitian culture, the Vantage student body voted to “adopt” the Bordes school and work hand-in-hand with them to provide vocational services to its students. They would organize this endeavor through a student formed Haiti Committee. This original committee began with two advisors and twelve students. During the second year of its existence, the Haiti Committee partnered with the Van Wert Rotary Club and associated itself as a Rotary Interact Club. While the primary purpose of the Interact Club was to strengthen the partnership between Vantage and the Bordes School, they also agreed to tackle service projects that would benefit local constituents. To date, the Vantage Interact Club has 125 members and is the largest high school Interact Club in the state of Ohio.
One major accomplishment of the Interact Club was establishing and maintaining a carpentry program at the Bordes School. By creating a carpentry program at the Bordes School, Vantage has taken an integral role in helping teach Haitians skills that will benefit them for their entire lifetime. Over the last six years, Vantage students have raised nearly $30,000 for the Bordes carpentry program, while also making annual trips to Haiti. Peg Bollenbacher, social studies teacher at Vantage, said “Adopting the school at Bordes was a student-led initiative. Our Vantage students wanted to reach out and work with Bordes students to provide opportunities that they otherwise would not have”.
The primary purpose of the trip this year was to make an educational and cultural exchange with the Bordes Carpentry class. Collins said, “When we got there, we were surprised to discover that the Carpentry class was on Spring Break, but they all came to meet us! Several rode their bikes over an hour just to meet us.” The trip provided the opportunity for the Interact Club members to determine the needs of the Carpentry class. Members of the Bordes community were very hospitable to the Vantage team. The Vantage team was asked many questions by the Haitian class and the exchange was very fruitful. The travelers discovered the poverty of Haiti, but also the richness of Haitian gratitude.
2009-2010 Interact Club Officers and Rotary Members
left to right: Ms. Peg Bollenbacher, Interact Club Advisor, Deb Russell, Van Wert Rotary President,
Camile Harting, Secretary, Q Reynolds, President, Alysha Mays, Vice-President, Jerod Schoonover, Treasurer, Deb Lahmon, Van Wert Rotary, Staci Kaufman, Vantage Superintendent and Van Wert Rotary, Brad Etter, Van Wert Rotary
Trip to Haiti - 2009
Three Vantage students and three staff members ventured to Cap Haitien and Bordes, Haiti for a week- long trip from April 5 to April 13, 2009. The Vantage delegation included students Camile Harting (Health Careers/Crestview), Kayla Collins (Culinary Arts/Van Wert) and Clint Myers (Industrial Mechanics/Lincolnview), along with staff members Peg Bollenbacher (American Studies) and Donna Myers (Preschool). Throughout the week, the Vantage team was able to experience Haitian culture, present some Haitians with American products that are considered rare in Haiti, as well as work together to strengthen the partnership between Vantage and a vocational school in Bordes, Haiti.
Six years ago, after hearing Bordes Superintendent, Marius Turienne, speak to Vantage social studies students about Haitian culture, the Vantage student body voted to “adopt” the Bordes school and work hand-in-hand with them to provide vocational services to its students. They would organize this endeavor through a student formed Haiti Committee. This original committee began with two advisors and twelve students. During the second year of its existence, the Haiti Committee partnered with the Van Wert Rotary Club and associated itself as a Rotary Interact Club. While the primary purpose of the Interact Club was to strengthen the partnership between Vantage and the Bordes School, they also agreed to tackle service projects that would benefit local constituents. To date, the Vantage Interact Club has 125 members and is the largest high school Interact Club in the state of Ohio.
One major accomplishment of the Interact Club was establishing and maintaining a carpentry program at the Bordes School. By creating a carpentry program at the Bordes School, Vantage has taken an integral role in helping teach Haitians skills that will benefit them for their entire lifetime. Over the last six years, Vantage students have raised nearly $30,000 for the Bordes carpentry program, while also making annual trips to Haiti. Peg Bollenbacher, social studies teacher at Vantage, said “Adopting the school at Bordes was a student-led initiative. Our Vantage students wanted to reach out and work with Bordes students to provide opportunities that they otherwise would not have”.
The primary purpose of the trip this year was to make an educational and cultural exchange with the Bordes Carpentry class. Collins said, “When we got there, we were surprised to discover that the Carpentry class was on Spring Break, but they all came to meet us! Several rode their bikes over an hour just to meet us.” The trip provided the opportunity for the Interact Club members to determine the needs of the Carpentry class. Members of the Bordes community were very hospitable to the Vantage team. The Vantage team was asked many questions by the Haitian class and the exchange was very fruitful. The travelers discovered the poverty of Haiti, but also the richness of Haitian gratitude.