Jefferson-Morgan receives national recognition for hosting foreign exchange student
Lucia Gallego Gomez, a foreign exchange student from Spain, became a cheerleader at Jefferson-Morgan High School during her year-long exchange. She is pictured with cheerleading coach Andrea Devecka on Senior Recognition Night. (Photo courtesy of Lucia Gallego Gomez)
Jeremy Weaver, left, his wife, Keshia, right, and their children, Alexis, second from left, Bryleigh, second row, and Andrew, front, served as host family for Lucia Gallego Gomez, second from right. (Photo courtesy of Lucia Gallego Gomez)
Courtesy Lucia Gallego Gomez
Courtesy Lucia Gallego Gomez
Lucia Gallego Gomez attended the Jefferson-Morgan Senior Prom, held at 19 North in Washington. The foreign exchange student wanted to attend a high school prom in the United States.
Lucia Gallego Gomez, a foreign exchange student from Madrid, Spain, participated in the Jefferson-Morgan High School musical. She was involved in many extracurricular activities, including the drama club. (Photo courtesy of Lucia Galego Gomez)
Karen Mansfield
Karen Mansfield
Jefferson-Morgan High School foreign Exchange student Lucia Gallego Gomez holds a 无毛视频淪tart With Yes无毛视频� plaque she presented to administrators. Gomez, who wanted to do everything she could when she came to the United States, embraced a 无毛视频淪tart With Yes无毛视频� philosophy.
Jefferson-Morgan High School has received national recognition for excellence in global education.
The high school, which hosted senior Lucia Gallego Gomez, of Madrid, Spain, for the 2022-23 school year, was awarded the EF High School Exchange Year Global Education Excellence Award, presented annually to schools that show commitment to international understanding and global awareness.
For Gomez, who is set to graduate alongside her Greene County classmates on Wednesday, the experience 无毛视频渉as been amazing.无毛视频�
无毛视频淚 will never forget my time in Jefferson, Pa., and I know I will always be welcome here,无毛视频� said Gomez.
Jefferson-Morgan High School Principal Wesley Loring said Gomez enthusiastically embraced academics and extracurricular activities at the high school and in the community, and was welcomed by students and staff.
Gomez, who holds a 4.0 GPA, joined the cheerleading squad (her favorite activity) and drama club, and attended prom, where she wore a long red dress for the red carpet-themed event.
无毛视频淪ince the day she walked in, she无毛视频檚 just been great. She took AP classes and honors classes, she challenged herself. She无毛视频檚 the model student. She无毛视频檚 always smiling, she has an upbeat, positive attitude,无毛视频� said Loring, whose commencement address is inspired, in part, by a 无毛视频渟tart with yes无毛视频� plaque Gomez presented to him, a daily reminder of her belief in a person无毛视频檚 ability to accomplish things big and small by saying 无毛视频測es无毛视频� to opportunities and challenges.
Gomez fell in love with American cuisine, especially the quintessential staple 无毛视频� macaroni and cheese.
无毛视频淢acaroni and cheese was the first American food that I tried as soon as I got off the plane, and I love it. Anytime I can, I eat mac and cheese,无毛视频� said Gomez. 无毛视频淎nd cheesy fries and hamburgers, they are so much better here.无毛视频�
She is less enamored with the early wake-up and lunch hours of Americans, compared with Spaniards.
In Spain, lunch is served at 2 or 3 p.m., followed by a siesta.
无毛视频淓verything else is early, too. Waking up at 9 a.m. is late here, but it无毛视频檚 early for me. School doesn无毛视频檛 start in Spain until 9 a.m., but here, it无毛视频檚 7:30.无毛视频�
Superintendent Brandon Robinson said the exchange program created learning opportunities for both Gomez and Jefferson-Morgan students and staff.
无毛视频淲e gained a lot with Lucia being here. She无毛视频檚 always positive, always smiling, she无毛视频檚 really enjoyable to be around. It无毛视频檚 made this year special. She无毛视频檚 had an impact that will last forever at J-M, for every teacher that无毛视频檚 had her and for teachers who don无毛视频檛, but got to know her,无毛视频� said Robinson. 无毛视频淪he无毛视频檚 made a lot of good friends. It无毛视频檚 been really good for our students and really good for our teachers.无毛视频�
Robinson was surprised when he learned the high school had received the Global Excellence Award.
无毛视频淚 was so proud of our teachers, students and administration on being so flexible to make Lucia one of us, and just giving her every opportunity she wanted,无毛视频� said Robinson.
Host family Jeremy and Keshia Weaver welcomed Gomez into their home, making her a part of their daily lives and taking her on family trips and outings.
Gomez, who became enamored with Ohiopyle State Park, said the Weavers 无毛视频渢reated me as their own daughter.无毛视频�
无毛视频淚 now have a second family and another place to call home,无毛视频� said Gomez.
Keshia Weaver congratulated Jefferson-Morgan on the award, saying, 无毛视频淔rom enrollment on we have gotten so much support and encouragement from the high school administration, principals, teachers, coaches, staff, and students. I could not have asked for a better group of people to help us all through this journey.无毛视频�
Gomez wants to attend college in the United States 无毛视频� she visited several universities during her stay 无毛视频� and plans to major in criminal justice in college, but visa issues and the cost of college tuition might hinder those plans.
Said Gomez, 无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 not sure how things will work out, but I definitely want to come back to the United States.无毛视频�