Wakayama-West Cultural Exchange

Since 1980, the Rotary Club of Wakayama-West and the Rotary Club of Concord-Diablo has had an “informal” cultural exchange program.  Each July, students between the ages of 13 and 22 have traveled to Japan or the US for a period of 2-3 weeks.

The club provides the airfare, and takes care of any expenses while the student is in the hosting country.  All of the students who have been privileged enough to go agree that the exchange was an experience of a lifetime!

Here’s a list of the Wakayama-West Alumni coming from the US to Japan:

1980 Mary Crauford
1981 Mary Milatos
1982 Kathy Simpson
1983 Blythe Sarchett
1984 Petek Rank
1985 Gena Baldwin
1986 Nicki Milatos
1987 Jennifer Silverter
1988 Douglas Ostler
1989 ***
1990 Kevin Melissare
1991 Jonathan Silvester
1992 Chad Cermillion
1993 Michael Jackson
1994 Robert Nishimori
1995 Amanda Silvester
1996 Christina Crane
1997 Jeremy Willer
1998 Erin Morris
1999 Laura Daniel
2000 Alissa McFall
2001 Jackie Beach
2002 ***
2003 David Wentling
2004 Mark Azevedo
2005 Amanda Wentling
2006 Justin Stewart
2007 Elizabeth Wentling
2008 Michael Hironaka
2009 Jace Ganuar
2010 Ashley Wentling
2011 Jeep Baggett
2012 Cody Sickenger
2013 Henry Valdez
2014 Josie McGregor