LAFAYETTE – Three Greater Lafayette area high school students have been selected by the Greater Lafayette Sister City Committee, a program of Greater Lafayette Commerce, to represent our community on a trip to Ota, Japan, Lafayette’s Sister City.

The students, whose completed applications and credentials earned them a spot, are:

Stephen Claypool, 16, McCutcheon High School, who has studied Japanese for three years and is interested in Japanese culture, festivals and holidays;

John Hawkins, 17, Delphi Community High School, who enjoys books and movies about Japan and its culture and is eager to learn more; and

Morgan Williams, 16, McCutcheon High School, who has a pen pal in Japan and would like to teach English there some day.

The students will travel from Sunday, June 17, through Tuesday, June 26. They will stay with host families in Japan ; visit Ota High School and the Gunma Kokusai Academy ; tour government offices; and visit such sights as Toushouguu Shrine, Kegon Falls and Kanayama Hill.

This is the first time local students have traveled to Ota , Japan , as part of the community’s Sister City relationship with Ota since the communities paired in 1993.

Lafayette City Clerk Cindy Murray will travel with the students as chaperone.

  “The students chosen will be great ambassadors for our area and carry a spirit of friendship and exchange forward,” said Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski. “It’s a tremendous opportunity, with a host of benefits for these students.”

The exchange program was developed in cooperation with the Lafayette Mayor’s Youth Council and Leadership Lafayette.

Members of the Sister City Committee are Bob Barker, Karen Countryman, Haley Cripe, Jack Kelley, Jennifer McGarvey, Sally McIntire, Ellie Mlynarik and Dan Moore.

Lafayette will welcome a student group from Ota in August, and the Sister City Committee will be seeking host families for them.  Anyone interested in being a host family should contact Lauren Davis at 765-807-5930.

About Greater Lafayette Commerce: Headquartered at 337 Columbia St. in Lafayette, Greater Lafayette Commerce ( www.greaterlafayettecommerce.com ), whose roots go back 85 years, is a nonprofit membership organization supported by local businesses, industries and governments. Its mission is to advance economic and community prosperity for a superior quality of life.