Advertisement

Heather Maxon, Josh Nadur-Eagisgoni, Alexa Jones and Jamie Spreeman, from East, and Lauren Wing, Charlotte Brown, Erin DeLisle, Troy Hillman, Brynn Soss and Gabriel Rhadigan, from West, were selected by judges to be delegates at the UN Pilgrimage for Youth after they each gave a speech about why they wanted to go.

The 59th Annual UN Pilgrimage for Youth was established by The Sovereign Grand Lodge Independent Order of Odd Fellows when the United Nations was four years old. Today, it is sponsored by the Odd Fellows and Rebekah Lodges. The educational program allows each student to visit Toronto, Ottawa, New York City, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C. and Niagara Falls to learn more about issues surrounding youths from around the world.

"The point of it (the UN Pilgrimage for Youth) is to make students aware of what is happening in the UN as well as make them aware of other life around the world," said Chairman of UN Pilgrimage for Youth in Michigan Pat Shary.

The UN event not only allows the students to study and observe the UN in action, but Shary said a few students expressed an interest in wanting to work for the UN someday and this trip will give them valuable insight into that career.

The students will give speeches on topics they receive upon their arrival as well as conduct in-depth conversations of topics with the other delegates.Ê

They will also get the opportunity to visit the UN building in New York and attend speeches there on Children Human Rights, Child Trafficking and Youth Issues. Following their visit to the UN Building, they will tour Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty as well as see other New York City attractions. While in Pennsylvania, they will visit

Gettysburg and Philadelphia.

This year, 18 students from Michigan, 14 from Switzerland, 12 from Ontario, four from the Netherlands, two from Manitoba and two from Saskatchewan will be going on the trip.

Lapeer, the State of Michigan, the Woman's Lodge and the Mount Pleasant Lodge sponsored the nine Lapeer students at $1,200 per student in order to send them on the trip.

To learn more about how to get involved with the UN Pilgrimage for Youth, visit their Web site at www.unpilgrimage.org.