Teen serves as

ambassador

to Australia

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Nikeshia Lynn Koch is your typical teenaged achiever, deeply involved in youth groups, athletics, singing, dancing, meeting people and traveling.

However, this 14-year-old "typical teen," who will be a freshman at New Ulm Senior High School this fall, found her young life taking a truly unexpected turn when she was selected to travel to Australia as one of a small group of U.S. student ambassadors.

It all started a year ago this summer when she received a letter from the People to People Student Ambassador Program informing her she had been nominated for the program.

She's not sure who nominated her, but she suspects it was one of her teachers. At any rate, it was an opportunity that seemed too good to be true.

"Everything written in the letter seemed wonderful. It focused on many things that I find interesting--travel, people and experiencing other cultures," Koch explained, still dealing with jet lag only 72 hours after returning to New Ulm Sunday.

"This entire People to People Student Ambassador stuff sounded great, but I still didn't know a whole lot about the program, " she said.

So, she did her own research and discovered that it was the nation's 34th president, Dwight D. Eisenhower, who founded the People to People program in 1956. She also explored the People to People website (www.studentambassador.org) for more information and asked her teachers, friends and family if they had ever heard of the program.

"I talked to former People to People student ambassadors from our area and surrounding areas. All the former student ambassadors said the same thing: 'It is an awesome program, it will change your life forever. If you are able to, do it!'" she said.

With that kind of feedback, Koch forged ahead, sending in her application and fee, hoping for an interview. Within a month, her application had been accepted and an interview was set up.

"After around an hour of interviewing with a People to People delegation leader, I received the great news. I had been approved and selected to be a student ambassador for our area," she said.

She soon learned that was only half the battle. She would need to raise $5,000 for the trip. So, she became totally immersed in fund raising.

"I have sent about 300 letters to area businesses asking for donations, sold Mary Kay, Home & Garden goodies, bracelets and scarves from Lambrecht's and Papa Murphy gift cards," the teenager related. "All of which are still available, if interested."

So, with less than half of the necessary funds raised, Koch set out upon her odyssey. The 18-day trip was heavily documented by photos she took and the souvenirs she brought home.

Her flight took her to Sydney, losing a day in the process while crossing the International Date Line. She spent her first four days in Sydney, staying at the home of Julie, Josh and Kobi Ferreira in the suburban community of Newcastle.

"They were so nice," Koch said.

Then, it was up the eastern coast to Darwin and Lake Bennett. The group spent two days at the Northern Territory lake, taking part in team building activities. It was on to Kakadu National Park of Crocodile Dundee fame and a visit to Ubirr Rock. It was her first chance for an up-close and personal look at Australia's wildlife.

After stops in Darwin, the city named after Charles Darwin, and Cape Tribulation, the student ambassadors spent their remaining five days at Cairns. A highlight there was a trip to the Great Barrier Reef for snorkeling.

"It really did change my thinking about career choices," Koch said. "I'd really like to look at careers that would take me to foreign countries. I'd go back to Australia in a minute."

But back to reality. She still needs to raise about $3,000 to pay off her trip expenses. She's hosting an "all-you-can-eat" Belgian waffle brunch in the basement of Church of St. Mary in New Ulm on Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. "to celebrate my safe return and share pictures of my trip."