Foreign Exchange Program-Managed by Platteville Rotary Club

Left: Denmark Exchange Student Vilhelm Skals; Center: Platteville Student Ellie Black; Right: Optimist and Rotary Club Member Barb Stockhausen, Optimist President Bob Hundhausen, Vilhelm Skals, Ellie Black, and Vilhelm's Host Family Representative Tammy Black

Vilhelm Skals, a student from Denmark, has been residing and studying in Platteville since August, 2024. This was made possible through the Rotary Youth Exchange Program. Vilhelm resides with his host family, Mike and Tammy Black, and is here for eleven months. He spoke about the small country of Denmark (16,000 square miles) and how their country, culture, and education program differs from the US. In Denmark, they offer a free education system, including the universities. Their emphasis is on teamwork, creativity and student well-being. The teachers come to the students versus their going to classes at a school.

Tammy Black spoke on behalf of being a host family for Vilhelm in additiion to being an outgoing family as their daughter, Ellie, will be an exchange student in the upcoming 2025-26 school year. She talked about the process of becoming a host family and helping her daughter work through the paperwork to qualify as an exchange student.

Ellie Black is currently a sophmore at Platteville High School and will reside in Switzerland her junior year (August 2025 - July 2026). She spoke about her goals and why she chose to partipate in the exchange program.

Per Barb Stockhausen, the Rotary Club strives to have three host families/year. This year we had two. The Youth Exchange Program is a well-controlled program and they encourage families to consider hosting students involved with this program.