Thanks to the Valpo Schools Foundation, students at Valparaiso High School are getting a little more cultured. Through a monetary donation, the school has been able to become a part of SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Program), a program that extends the visas for foreign exchange students, allowing them to stay in the United States for over a year. Typically visas only allow residency for no longer than a year.
“This program is mostly done for university students,” stated Reid Amones, Principal at Valparaiso High School, sharing that only 12-15 high schools participate in this program. “This opportunity is good for the kids abroad, giving them the opportunity to acclimate to US culture.”
How the program works: the school applies to be a part of the program and has a site visit. Once they receive their SEVIS number, they are certified to host the exchange students. A student applies then in their home country and is accepted by a family here in the United States. Upon arriving in the country, the parents of the student give up their parental rights and award them to the US family for their entire stay.
Valparaiso High School has applied to the program and undergone their site visit, but are still waiting on the SEVIS number which could be awarded at any time. The school is looking forward to hosting these students, particularly freshmen and sophomore aged kids, who will grow and graduate with the school.
“We also find value in this program for our students and community because it brings outside cultural experience, very immersing for our kids,” Amones went on to say. Many students go on to college and often participate in study abroad programs- having an inside scoop on the culture ahead of time would be incredibly beneficial as they ease into new lifestyles.
“The program helps build a diverse community. We hope these students will come back and live here,” Amones continued. “We predict many of the students will continue on to Valparaiso University and become productive members of the community.”
“This will be a neat experience for our kids,” said Amones.