FLEX Stories

On February 13th, 2003, FLEX students Oksana, Kira and Nelly, along with other students, went to the Kansas State Capitol in Topeka to act as Pages in the House of Representatives. During this excursion, they had their picture taken with the Governor, toured the Capital Building along with its huge dome, and paged during the session.

Later that afternoon, the FLEX group went to the exhibit "Treasures of the Czars." This traveling exhibit consists of pieces on loan from the Kremlin. They all thoroughly enjoyed it and were very excited to see "Peter the Great" painted on the outside of the building!

Former President Carter Welcomes AYA and FLEX Students to the United States

Mr. Walter Belt White, an AYA host father from Alabama, took four AYA and FLEX students (Till Holscher, Jullan Helzmann, Marcelo Hannoun and George Vashakidze) and two of his own children for an exciting weekend in Georgia. The group started out their expedition on Friday afternoon with a trip to Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia.

On Saturday, they visited the "Little White House" in Warm Springs, Georgia, the home of Former President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This is the house where Roosevelt lived in prior to his election in 1932, returned to for his treatments against polo, and later died on April 12, 1945. At the house, the AYA students and family saw the chair Roosevelt was sitting in when he died and the "unfinished portrait," which was being painted by Elizabeth S when Roosevelt died.

On Sunday, the group visited the Maranantha Baptist Church, where Former President Carter regularly teaches Sunday School lessons. The students were fortunate to attend one of Carter's lessons. Following the service, Former President Carter greeted the AYA students and welcomed them to the United States. After Church, the group continued their "Presidential Weekend" with a visit to Carter's former childhood school, which is now preserved as a museum. Inside the museum, the students saw displays of Former President Carter's achievements leading to his Noble Peace Prize last year.