US trip for local student

Ballymena Academy sixth form student and viola player Athena Richards has secured a place to represent Northern Ireland on a US exchange arranged by the Rotary International.
Viola player Athena Richards has secured a place to represent Northern Ireland on a US exchange arranged by the Rotary International.Viola player Athena Richards has secured a place to represent Northern Ireland on a US exchange arranged by the Rotary International.
Viola player Athena Richards has secured a place to represent Northern Ireland on a US exchange arranged by the Rotary International.

Athena left on July 10 for three weeks and is hosted by a Rotary family in San Diego, California. She will be rehearsing and performing with the San Diego Youth Symphony Orchestra. Athena, who is pictured here receiving a pennant from Ballymena President Jim Briggs will be presenting it to the San Diego Club.

Seamus Walsh of the Dungannon Rotary Club, who is Rotary Youth’s Exchange Programme coordinator in Northern Ireland to travel to various destinations in Europe and North America on activity-based exchanges, which have been immensely valuable to all those who have taken part.

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Athena is one of ten young people benefiting from the international youth camps organised by Rotary Clubs worldwide.

This year the Northern Ireland young people are going canoeing in Canada, sailing in Finland, Language and culture in Germany and San Diego Music Camp to name a few.

The Rotary International Youth Camp gives young people the opportunity to experience different cultures, develop communication, independence and leadership skills invaluable in life.