Local Leader Helps People to People Student Ambassadors Prepare for International Adventures on the European Heritage Tour

FOR IMMED IATE RELEASE

TO: Kevin Nichols

Today’s Date: June 27, 2009

Contact Info: Courtney Torres, 510.262.0340 or courtneytorres@yahoo.com

Local Leader Helps People to People Student Ambassadors Prepare for

International Adventures on the European Heritage Tour

This is one of the busiest times of the year for Courtney Torres. As outstanding students from the Contra Costa County area prepare to spread international goodwill and understanding as People to People Student Ambassadors, Torres, formerly the principal at Calvary Christian Academy in El Sobrante, is playing a vital role. She will be leading a 20 day People to People delegation to seven European countries including Great Britain, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland. Delegations will take part in a variety of activities, such as visiting the Normandy American Cemetery, which is the last resting place of 9,387 young soldiers who were killed in 1944 during the Battle of Normandy; attending an educational parliamentary briefing with a British (MP) Member of Parliament; and cruising on the Rhine River.

Delegation leader, Courtney Torres, has been apart of People to People since 2007 and took her first trip last year to Holland. In the last eleven years she has worked with children as an educator and school administrator; for the last two years serving as the principal of Calvary Christian Academy (CCA). Outside of coaching and teaching, she has experience working with children in after-school programs, extracurricular activities and community groups. “The best part of the experience is being able to watch PTP student delegates gain insight and worldly understanding; as well as develop friendships with other youth from parts of the world during the program.”

During the last few months, Torres has helped organize and attend meetings with other leaders, families, and students to learn more about the destination. Leaders travel closely with their delegation, participating in every activity and providing a vital link between the students, their families, and the supporting program office.

Acceptance into the Student Ambassador program is selective: students must be nominated by a teacher, submit letters of recommendation, and go through extensive interviews with the leaders. By participating in the programs, students can earn academic credit while getting to know the history, culture, and people of the places they will visit.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower founded People to People in 1956 with the belief that ordinary citizens of different nations could make a difference where governments could not. In 2006, People to People celebrated its 50th year of safely bringing the best educational journeys to life. If you have any questions regarding the People to People mission or programs, visit www.peopletopeople.com.