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Kenneth Sydhagen (18), the Norwegian candidate for the 2008 Ben Franklin Summer Institute
U.S.Embassy sends young
Norwegian student on summer exchange
Based on an essay contest and an interview, the U.S. Embassy
in Oslo has
selected a young Norwegian student as participant in the Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellows
Initiative (BFTF) Summer Institute. The program is set up to foster
relationships among youth from Eurasia, Europe and America in order to advance links
and awareness of shared values, encounter principles of freedom and cooperation
as challenges in the global 21st Century. The 45 participants will
spend 3 ½ weeks of their summer at Wake
Forest University
in North Carolina, focusing on the exploration of global issues
through interactive activities, practical experiences, and other hands-on
opportunities. Through their participation, the youth will learn more about democratic
practices, volunteer service, conflict resolution, critical thinking, tolerance
and respect for diversity, and youth leadership.
Kenneth Sydhagen from Fjellhamar (18) is the lucky candidate
from Norway.
He is currently a student at Lørenskog Videregående Skole, where he, in
addition to being an excellent student, is the chairman of the student council.
He is also a member of a wide range of extracurricular groups and committees,
among others the executive committee for student boards in Akershus County
Council, and the Akershus County Council committee for establishment of an
international youth network.
Read Kenneth’s winning essay on ‘The
Norwegian-US friendship - how I see its future’ here.
Bettina Steen (17) from Rasta was the runner up, and is
Kenneth’s alternate for the Summer Institute. Read her essay here.
