The 2025-2026 Academic Year in America (AYA) Exchange Students and Host Families from our area schools got to experience the Winter Olympic Sport of Curling thanks again to the Rice Lake Curling Club.
With the help of instructors Mark and Marsha Shuda and club members Craig Smith, Mel Pearson, Darren and Leah Diedrich, Emma Anderson, and Carolyn Mickelson. On Feb, 1, the Rice Lake Curling Club demonstrated their generosity, shared their skills, and donated their time by welcoming students from all around the world to this lifelong winter sport.
This act of kindness and sharing of our Upper Midwest culture came right at time that the 2026 Olympic Winter games were starting in Miland Cortina, Italy. Activities and interactions of this sort encourage guests from other countries to see a much broader view of what our American culture has to offer. Thanks go out for their efforts that make this world a safer place to live, one child at a time.
The following regional host families are to be congratulated for opening up their homes and taking on the responsibility of an exchange student this (2025-2026) academic school year: Leisha and Andrew Kopp from Rice Lake for hosting Annabel from Germany; Tara and Paul Harycki from Rice Lake for hosting Nathan from Ecuador; Kim and Patrick Donica from Almena/Cumberland for hosting Laura from France; Kayla and Philip Klein from Spooner/Shell Lake for hosting David from Germany; Rebecca and Adam Zemke from Clayton for hosting Eriz from Spain; and Alexandra from Germany, Angie and Robert Ruppel from Cumberland for hosting Andrea from Italy; Amber and Eric Mickelson from Eau Claire for hosting Anna from Austria; Jason and Billie Jo Wood and Heather Miller for hosting Klara from Germany; Tina Kuesel from Frederic for hosting Heidemarie from Austria; Erin and Josh Hosking from Amery for hosting Till from Germany; Steve Burgmann and Julie Korish from Cumberland/Turtle Lake for hosting Leane from France; Leann and Shawn Larson and Kendra Hansen and Scott Donahue from Grantsburg for hosting Arianna from Italy; and Kee and Josh Prusinski from Grantsburg for hosting Jael from Switzerland.
The 2025-2026 placement of the highest quality students from around the world is now underway with AYA “The Gold Standard” exchange program, and interested families are encouraged to contact this highly academic organization by calling or texting Steve Eichman 715-541-2456 or emailing: stevejeichman@gmail.com for more information.Note: the aove story was submitted by Steve Eichman Senior Local Coordinator for the AYA Exchange Program in Wisconsin.
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