(Photo by Alison Pantesco)
Political Science major James Lavimoniere has been awarded an all-expenses paid, year-long academic and professional experience in Germany through the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX), a highly competitive exchange. Funded by the German Bundestag and U.S. Congress through the U.S. Department of State, this program annually provides 75 young professionals who have a strong interest in cultural exchange the opportunity to study, work, and live with a host in Germany. The CBYX program consists of two months of German language school; four months of classes in the participant’s career field at a university, technical school, or professional school; and a five-month internship in the career field. Participants are placed throughout Germany on this scholarship program.
“This opportunity means a lot to me,” James said. “I didn’t really know where I wanted to go after graduation. I see a lot of my friends graduate and struggle to find jobs or just figure out what they want to do with their lives. With this program, I now have a great opportunity to get started on a career. Not only does this program offer professional training through the internship phase, but it also offers travel and cultural experiences that I would not have been able to get anywhere else. One of my biggest regrets in college was that I never took a semester to study abroad. This program will allow me to realize that dream.”
“My time at Keene has taught me to be flexible. Freshman year, I never imagined that I would be graduating a Political Science major and going on to live in Germany for a year. My Political Science courses taught me to listen to and understand other’s positions and points of view on various subjects, as well as how to express my own views. These skills were critical to my getting accepted into this program.”
“I have had James in class for two semesters and he is an excellent student,” explained Alison Pantesco, contract lecturer in German. “More importantly perhaps for this opportunity, James has an inquisitive nature and seems quite open to adventure and challenge. It is easy for me to imagine him immersed in the German culture, both at the university and at his internship site. … being fluent in German will open many doors for him, both in his professional and personal life.”
It is with the greatest of pleasure that I have read of your wonderful opportunity to participate in the Congres-Budestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals next year. There are many reasons for the pleasure it gives me, a 1964 graduate of Keene State College and the first recipient of the Frank Blackington Award that year. During my junior year at Keene I participated in the “March to Concord” which culminated in the change of status of Keene Teachers College to Keene State College of the University of New Hampshire.
I was a “commuter” and lived most of my campus life in the dark basement of Parker Hall with other commuters. The “Keene Evening Sentinel” used to sponsor a summer study program when I was a student at Keene. I desperately wanted a French experience and applied for the all expense paid summer program. I was granted an interview but, unfortunately for me, another student was chosen. I was in my late 40’s when I received a National Endowment for the Humanities grant and spent six weeks in Paris, a most wonderful and exciting summer.
When today I see how Keene State has evolved into the wonderful educational institution it is, I am totally jealous and hope that students are able to appreciate the opportunities they have in such wondrous surroundings and with such competent and dedicated faculty.
More pleasure comes from knowing Ali Pantesco. I taught for ten years or more at the high school level with Ali and know what a tremendously dedicated teacher and motivator she is. Her confidence in you and the esteem she has earned among her colleagues over the years surely have contributed to the honor you have received.
Sincere congratulations to you for your academic achievements; may you grow in every positive way and “go forth to serve”.