Exchange Students Describe Foods, Traditions to Logan County Commissioners

Three 17-year-old foreign exchange students described the food, traditions, languages and history of their home countries during a Logan County Commissioners business meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 3. Anastasia Nebieridze of Georgia, Sofiya Vorontsova of Ukraine and Ada Medrut of Romania also "shared some of the things they’ve found most unusual about the United States," giving county leaders a direct view of how global students experience life in Logan County.

The presentations followed a planning discussion recorded in county work session minutes from Dec. 16, 2025, when Jennifer Crow told the board that "Elaine Meisner would like to bring three exchange students to a business meeting in January to give presentations about their countries." The work session minutes show Meisner asked that each student have "about 10-15 minutes" and that a business meeting was preferred "as they usually have a larger audience." The minutes add that the board agreed to schedule the students for the second meeting in January. The available records do not explain why the presentations occurred on Feb. 3 instead of in January.

Elaine Meisner, the area representative for the Pan Atlantic Foundation, described the student selection process for the exchange program in published reporting, saying "these students come to the United States through a competition to receive a scholarship, with funds provided by both their home country and the U.S." Meisner noted the program is highly competitive - typically 37,000 to 40,000 applicants with usually 750 accepted - and that "this year that will be cut down to 300." She said applicants must meet English standards and demonstrate readiness for an exchange stay, and that selected students receive "a regular stipend while they’re in America from August to May/June."

Local hosts include students attending Fleming and Haxtun High Schools this year. Photos from the meeting show Commissioners Jim Santomaso and Jim Yahn posing with the students, and Sofiya Vorontsova holding up the Ukraine flag during her presentation. The visual and personal elements underscored the cultural exchange value for classrooms and community events across Logan County.

Beyond cultural enrichment, the visit has public health and social equity implications. Regular interaction with international students can strengthen cultural competence among school staff and students, support immigrant and refugee-friendly practices, and inform local mental health and social services about the needs of transient teen populations. At the policy level, county leaders and school districts can use these presentations to assess supports such as translation services, cultural orientation, and access to counseling for exchange students and their local peers.

For Logan County residents, the presentations offer a reminder that small communities host global connections. County officials and school administrators can follow up by clarifying program logistics, confirming which students attend which schools, and considering whether local supports align with the needs of international students and the equity goals of the community. Photos and reporting from the meeting were credited to Callie Jones of the Sterling Journal-Advocate.