KFC: Kentucky For Charis

LOCAL student Charis Wray is getting ready to fly out to Morehead, Kentucky USA, after securing the Diamond Jubilee Student Exchange Bursary from Ballymena Borough Council.

The Programme has been running from 2009 and provides local students with the opportunity to travel to Morehead, Kentucky, to develop an understanding of a different country, its culture and people, through a family living experience.

Charis, who studies at the South Eastern Regional College campus, will jet off on 20th August and spend one week with her host family, experiencing the American way of life.

“I am very excited, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity, especially getting the chance to visit Kentucky as it is not somewhere you would normally choose to go.”

Charis will learn about her hosts’ local cultures and customs, make lifelong friends and will hopefully bring back a wealth of fascinating stories about her stay abroad.

Rosalind Lowry, from Ballymena Borough Council explains: “We were very impressed by all the applications we received and I congratulate everyone who took part. We are delighted to be able to support students with this practical and tangible bursary.”

Also travelling to Kentucky is music student Diane McCullough.

Diane is studying Music at the University of Ulster Magee in Londonderry.

She is chairperson of Magee Traditional Irish Music Society and teaches with the County Antrim and Derry Fiddlers group.

Diane is very involved in music and is a member of several local music groups including the newly formed ‘Kask’, Ulster Folk Orchestra and Carnlea Accordion Band.

She performs regularly with all of these groups and is very interested to experience the bluegrass and traditional music of Kentucky.

Her aim is to finish her degree and complete a PGCE which will enable her to become a Primary School Teacher.

Diane enjoys playing music, teaching and performing music, also socialising with friends and family, exercising at the gym and running. In addition to her orchestral playing and teaching.

She also sings in her University Choir.

Ballymena Borough Council has been linked with the City of Morehead under The Sister Cities International Initiative for approximately ten years, and over this period of time the bursary scheme has already helped several local students develop their studies.”

As part of the scheme, Kentucky girls Kelly Modaff and Kady Caric have arrived in Ballymena and are preparing themselves for a week of fun in the borough.

Twenty-year-old Kelly is a waitress at her local coffee shop and plays the keyboard. With her musical talent, Kelly formed a band, Red Fire with her brother Johnathon (23) on guitar.

“I love the accents and the environment,” Kelly said.

She added: “Ballymena is like a bigger version of our hometown, Morehead, so I feel comfortable taking a walk around the town and admiring the views.”

However, she will have to get used to a temperature drop while she’s here: “Back home it is really hot, sometimes over 95 degrees!”

Eighteen-year-old Kady Caric, is a language student, who studied French at her local secondary school for three years. She also lived in China for a year studying the Chinese language.

She said: “My next ambition is to go on to study at the University of Pittsburg, but I can’t decide between politics or philosophy.

“Back home, we only have one secondary school, but here there are many, which is what we would prefer.”

The girls are being whisked away to see the sights of The Giants Causeway and the Glens of Antrim.

They will also be spending time in Belfast and visiting the Titanic quarter building.

Even though they have a busy week schedule ahead the girls are determined to relax.

“In our spare time, we like to visit the local bookstores, bakeries and coffee shops.”

They are also determined to try a pint of the black stuff.

“All my friends back home told me that I couldn’t leave without trying some Guinness,” said Kelly.

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