Students from all walks of life travel through the halls of the Sampson Early College High School, located on the campus of Sampson Community College; however, there are three new faces this semester that stand out from the crowd. Monika Hulicova, Mihaela Agapi and Niklas Cypris are enrolled as part of a student exchange program, and school officials said they bring with them a wealth of knowledge and enriching cultures from all over the globe.

Agapi and Hulicova are both enrolled in the Future Leaders Exchange Students Program, a curriculum that was founded to improve relations with other countries and destroy international misperceptions of the United States.

“In my country, our curriculum consists of basic education. Through this program, we are able to be exposed to a different culture and different method of learning in America. It’s an opportunity I’ve waited for my whole life,” added Hulicova.

Niklas Cyprus, a native of Germany, registered through the CBYX Curriculum, a program through the Congress of Bundestag Youth Exchange. Cyprus is a native of Cologne, Germany, a city of nearly one million people. He said, however, being in Sampson County and the Early College makes him feel right at home. “I love the South,” he says. “I get individualized attention in a smaller environment, and I love that students at the Eary College can voice their opinions and are open-minded. It’s a great experience!”

SECHS faculty are equally delighted to host Niklas, Miheala, & Monika this year. According to Dr. Linda Jewell-Carr, Early College principal, hosting the students is a a daily reminder of SECHS student, Doran Bouchard, who is currently attending a German school in Oerlinghausen North Rhine Westphalia as part of the same student exchange program.

“It is important to me as an administrator that Doran’s unique qualities and gifts not be forgotten during his time away from us this year. We agreed to participate in the exchange program as a host to one student. We were contacted by the local coordinator, Lynn Goreman, to possibily sponsor two other international youth desiring an American experience. Our school has been very blessed to have these three young people milling about with our SECHS & SCC students this year.”

Agapi and Hulicova are residing with host family, Debbie and Rob Hargrove while Cyprus lives with Carlyle and Michelle Williams.

Carr emphasized her appreciation for the host families for their willingness and eagerness to make the exchange students feel welcome. “We sincerely appreciate the Williams’ and Hargroves’ for their enthusiasm for this program. Hosting an exchange student is no small commitment, because they literally have an additional child to take care of for the entire year. For this, we are most thankful,” she said.

All three students agreed that they are equally thankful for being placed in the Sampson Early College High School. One thing they don’t agree on, however, is food! All three students have three very different palettes. Hulicova and Agapi say the biggest adjustment to the American way of life has been fast food, because in Slovokia and Moldova most meals are prepared at home. Cyprus, however, enjoys fast food and jokingly admits that he could eat at Wendy’s every day.

Another subject that all three agree on is their future plans. They plan to attend college upon graduation. After their 11-month journey is over in Sampson County, they will return to their native countries to complete their education. Cyprus intends to pursue economics and politics while Mihaela plans to attend law school at a university in the Netherlands. Hulicova says she hasn’t decided what career path she’ll take, but she says she plans to pursue her favorite subject: Math.

Wherever their travels take them, it is certain that the three exchange students have left their mark at SECHS, said. Carr. “We have enjoyed learning about their countries, traditions, customs, differences in travel, food, and even day to day living. Nikolas, Miheala, & Monika will leave lasting impressions on our culture here at the early college as we learn and grow each day as a Sampson County School.”

For more information about the Sampson Early College High School, contact Carr at 592-8081.