Contact: Jenni Brockman Australian high school sophomores Brittanie Erwin and Gemma Stephenson arrived last week in Tappahannock to spend a trimester of study abroad. These young ladies were chosen to represent their country in an international exchange program between St. Margaret’s School in Victoria, Australia and St. Margaret’s School in Tappahannock. They are the second pair of Australian students to spend three months studying at St. Margaret’s School in Tappahannock. Australians Hilary Duffy and Adrienne Richards completed three months of study in Tappahannock in March 1999. Hilary Duffy, a day student, stayed with SMS sophomore Britton Faulkner at her family’s residence in White Stone. Adrienne Richards, a boarder, roomed in Latané Hall dormitory with Carol Combs of Statesboro, Ga. In March, at the close of the second trimester, the four students traveled to Australia and resumed their studies at St. Margaret’s School in Berwick, Australia. The Duffy family hosted Britton Faulkner at their home in Pakanham; Carol Combs stayed with the Richards family in Berwick. Brittanie Erwin arrives from Upper Beaconsfield, Australia, a semi-rural town located southeast of Melbourne at the base of the Dandenong mountain range, about a 10-minute drive from Berwick. Brittanie lives at home with her parents, Mick and Wendy Erwin. Gemma also resides at home with parents, Ron and Joann Stephenson, in Hallam, Australia, on the outskirts of Melbourne. When not playing with her pet bichon frisé, Matilda, Brittanie Erwin enjoys playing sports, particularly netball. Her other interests include dancing - classical, jazz and tap - and drama. She also likes to spend time with friends, shop and listen to her favorite bands, Shania Twain, Celine Dion and Boys Zone. Gemma Stephenson’s favorite activity is drama. She also enjoys tennis and aerobics. In her spare time, she likes to watch movies and sing along with her favorite rock groups, Frenzal Rohmb, Custard, Spiderbait, Fuel and Pearl Jam. Gemma has two pets: a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Lucy, and a Persian-cross cat, Sophie. In October, St. Margaret’s School sophomores Heather Porter and Shannon Davis were selected to represent St. Margaret’s School in the exchange program for the year 2000. The young ladies will travel to Australia with Brittanie Erwin and Gemma Stephenson in March. Both SMS students are excited about what lies ahead. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I wouldn't want to change it for the world," says Shannon Davis. "Having Britt live with me here is like having another sister who I can share things with." Selection to participate in the exchange program is based on academic achievement combined with extracurricular involvement in a variety of activities. "It is an honor to have Heather and Shannon travel abroad and represent St. Margaret’s School (Tappahannock) in Australia," says Headmistress Margaret Broad. "These girls are excellent choices for cultural exchange - I know they will have a rewarding experience." The exchange concept was initiated in 1997, when the heads of several Australian boarding schools met at a National Coalition of Girls’ Schools conference. Virginia Henry, Principal of St. Margaret’s School, Berwick, proposed the idea of an exchange program between international boarding schools. Headmistress Broad, delighted by the idea, corresponded by e-mail from Tappahannock with Principal Henry, in Australia. Last January, Principal Henry’s vision became a reality when St. Margaret’s School, Berwick successfully completed the first student exchange with St. Margaret’s School, Tappahannock. SMS has participated in other exchange programs as well. In 1998, St. Margaret’s completed an exchange with St. Margaret's’s School in Bushey, England. Program alumna Ashley Porter, Heather’s older sister, spent her senior year studying abroad in Bushey. Ashley is currently a sophomore studying at Cornell University in Ithica, New York. Nicole Kaufman, an SMS Bushey "gap" student taking a one-year sabbatical between high school and college, worked as an intern at St. Margaret’s School in Tappahannock in 1998. In September, Tappahannock native Carolyn Stephenson, a 1999 graduate of St. Margaret’s, began a one-year term as an intern working with kindergarten children at SMS Bushey. In addition, St. Margaret’s senior Katie Farmer, of Millers Tavern, designed a three-week independent study project that will investigate similarities and differences between the missions and philosophies of the British and American St. Margaret’s Schools. Katie will compile her findings into a user-friendly handbook that students of both schools will be able to use to learn more about the unique customs and traditions of each institution. The essence of the philosophy behind the cooperative exchange program is to broaden the opportunities available to students at both schools. Once realized, the exchange will provide the girls with increased global awareness and understanding that will enable them to achieve greater success in their futures. "It is beautiful to watch these spirited girls," states Headmistress Broad. "To see them pursue their dreams and go out and make discoveries for themselves is truly special. I am so very proud of each of them."
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Australian Students Commence Their Studies at St. Margaret’s
International Exchange Students - (l. to r.) Gemma Stephenson, Shannon Davis, Britton Faulkner, Brittanie Erwin, Carol Combs, Katie Farmer, Carolyn Stephenson, and Heather Porter.
