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Rotary Youth Exchange
Mike Irvin Appointed to District Leadership Role

District Governor Elect Gordon Owens has selected Rotarian Mike Irvin of the Rotary Club of Dunwoody to join the district leadership team in the role of District Chair for the Rotary Youth Exchange program, for a three-year term beginning July 1, 2024. In that role Mike will promote, manage, and oversee both the Inbound exchange program and the Outbound scholarship program for Georgia high school students.

Mike is a long-time Rotarian who has served District 6900 and his clubs in many different roles, while being an active member of the Muscogee-Columbus club and the Dunwoody club.  At the club level, Mike has served as Membership Chair, Public Image Chair, Youth Exchange Officer, and Club President. At the district level, Mike has been a member of the Global Grants Scholars committee and has served as District Member Attraction Chair and District Outbound Student Coordinator for the Rotary Youth Exchange Scholarship Program. As the new District Chairman for Rotary Youth Exchange, Mike will work with DGE Gordon, DGN Steve, and DGND Cynthia to expand the program in our district and aim to provide many more study abroad scholarships to Georgia high school students.

Since getting certified by Rotary International to offer the Rotary Youth Exchange program back in 2016, District 6900 has awarded more than $1 million dollars’ worth of study abroad scholarships to Georgia high school students, all at no cost to the awarding Rotary clubs. We have arranged more than 85 study abroad scholarship experiences. More than 165 Rotarians in the district have become Rotary Certified Youth Volunteers through the program, and more than 300 non-Rotarian host family members have joined the family of Rotary after hosting one of our Inbound students to Georgia. The Rotary Youth Exchange scholarship for Georgia high school students is the only Rotary scholarship that is available to children and grandchildren of Rotarians.  For more information on the program, visit Rotary6900.org/RYE.

Posted by Mike Parks
March 5, 2024

Comments

Posted by Gillian Leggett
Rotary Club of Stone Mountain
March 10, 2024 9:38am

Congratulations, Mike Irvin!

Mike Parks, thank you for all you have done, and have continued to do, to bring Rotary Youth Exchange to District 6900. You and your team developed and maintained a wonderful program within our district. I hope you take a well-deserved rest. I am not kidding when I say that Rotary Youth Exchange changed my life and the lives of my family members. Being a host parent was the most amazing experience. Anne and I continue to chat with "our boy" Abbe in Sweden as often as we can. (He recently requested that we set up a weekly video chat. Of course, we said "YES!") We love witnessing his journey as he continues to excel in university, in life and, in love. (Yes, a wedding is planned for 4 years from now and, his fiancé is simply amazing.) You were the catalyst in this story, and my entire family can never thank you enough for your vision, your hard work, and dedication to our youth. Our lives will never be the same because of you - THANK YOU! (P.S. Abbe told me to say hello to you!)

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