Local students to go to Germany this summer to study
By Rebecca Seymour
Special to the Enterprise
OCONOMOWOC — Oconomowoc High School has been selected as a German American Partnership Program (GAPP) "School of Distinction," for its exceptional partnership in fostering youth exchange between the U.S. and Germany.
The school of distinction award is an honor that recognizes select GAPP schools in the U.S. for their outstanding engagement and best practices that facilitate youth exchanges in their school, community, and beyond.
For the past 26 years, OHS German teachers and staff have organized student exchanges with partner school Schiller-Gymnasium in Offenburg in Germany with the goal of building lasting relationships between students, host families, teachers, and administrators.
OHS German teacher Christele Schwerer has been helping to coordinate GAPP student exchange trips and activities since 2011.
"Having the opportunity to travel to Germany through our GAPP exchange opens our students' eyes to the world. It's good for them to experience living with a host family, attend classes in a German high school, experience a different culture and way of life, and apply the German language in real context," explained Schwerer.
For three weeks this last fall, Oconomowoc welcomed 23 GAPP exchange students from Offenburg. From June 19-July 8, Schwerer, OHS guidance counselor Carrie Schultz, and OHS environmental science teacher Kelly Holtzman will accompany 22 OHS students to Germany for what they hope will be a lifechanging trip.
"This will be my fourth GAPP trip with our students to Germany. I love it because the program offers such an amazing opportunity for students to share about their cultures, and build new friendships," said Schultz.
When not in the classroom at Schiller-Gymnasium, the group will explore local cities, museums, and castles, go biking through the countryside, and hike in the Swiss Alps. They will also visit a concentration camp.
"I'm looking forward to immersing myself in the German culture and language. I also want to see what it would be like to study computer science in Germany," said Ken Buschhaus, 18.
"I want to study abroad, so I feel the trip this summer will be a great experience. I'm a little nervous and also excited about traveling and being independent. I think it will really be an eye-opener," added Ella Unterweger, 15.
Making connections
Since 1972 the German American Partnership Program has facilitated enriching cultural exchanges between schools in the U.S. and Germany.
Jointly administered by the Standing Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the States of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Goethe-Institut New York, and GAPP, Inc., the partnership inspires intercultural understanding, promotes German language instruction, and fosters international friendships.
In the last 45 years, more than 400,000 GAPP alumni have crossed the Atlantic in pursuit of language learning, and life-changing, intercultural experiences.
Jennifer and Dave Beck of Oconomowoc have hosted three GAPP exchange students in the past five years. Most recently, the family hosted Luca Vogt, 16, from Offenburg this fall.
Their son Gavin, 19, spent three weeks in Germany on the GAPP exchange in 2017, and daughter Marin, 16, will be traveling with the tour this summer.
"I'm so excited to go to Germany because I get to see Luca again. We're like sisters and we try to talk every day. I'm also excited to experience the different food, culture, and the school," said Marin. "It's important to find out who you are, and traveling to Europe will give me a chance to discover some things about myself."
For more information about GAPP, visit www.goethe.de/gapp. For information about GAPP at Oconomowoc High School, contact Christele Schwerer at schwerec@oasd.org.
Oconomowoc High School has been selected recently as a German American Partnership Program (GAPP) "School of Distinction," for its exceptional partnership in fostering youth exchange between the U.S. and Germany for the past 26 years. Pictured from left are some of the OHS students and staff traveling to Offenburg, Germany this summer: Tess Karnowski, Ken Buschhaus, Raymond Menting, Jaden Tremaine, Sophie Ruppel, Ella Unterweger, and Juliet Hussey; OHS German teacher Christele Schwerer, OHS guidance counselor Carrie Schultz, OHS environmental science teacher Kelly Holtzman, and OHS principal Jason Curtis.
Rebecca Seymour/Special to the Enterprise