Fourteen graduating seniors from Benjamin Logan and Bellefontaine High Schools are part of the American Exchange Project (AEP)—a free, nationwide program that connects students from diverse backgrounds by swapping hometowns after graduation.
The local experience was organized by Henry Stolly of Bellefontaine City Schools and Sally Stolly of Benjamin Logan Schools, who worked together to bring the American Exchange Project to Logan County for the second time.
This week, students from California, Utah, Tennessee, Texas, Kansas, and other states stayed with host families across the area, joining local seniors for a week packed with hands-on activities that showcased Logan County’s culture, industry, and natural beauty.
Students who traveled to Ohio:
- Nate Arnold – American Fork, UT
- Rebekah Barnes – Little Rock, AR
- Carter Barton – Kilgore, TX
- Jun Daverman – Palo Alto, CA
- Jordan Lock – Albany, CA
- Andrea Lopez – Los Angeles, CA
- Charlotte Lungren – Palo Alto, CA
- Genesis Nunez – Nashville, TN
- Elton Pagliaro – Jasper, TX
- Emily Perez – Dodge City, KS
- Phenix Rivers – Kilgore, TX
Highlights from their stay included:
- A tour of the Logan County Museum
- A creative photo booth and art session with LoCo Art
- An evening concert and soundcheck at the historic Holland Theatre
- Outdoor fun during a pond night with swimming and boating
- A full-day trip to the Columbus Zoo and Zoombezi Bay
Students also explored the region through visits to Marmon Valley Farms, Ohio Caverns, Honda’s HALO Wind Tunnel, the Honda Heritage Center, and Wilson Sporting Goods.
On Monday, the group visited the Bellefontaine Rotary Club’s weekly meeting at noon at the American Legion in Bellefontaine, where they were welcomed by community leaders and learned more about the Rotary’s work in the region.
The students also shared their experiences and how the project has impacted the community and cultural outlooks.
The Logan County students either have already traveled to their destination or will do so in the coming weeks.
Students included in the exchange are (and where they are going/have gone) :
- Hunter Andrix – North Powder, OR (Benjamin Logan High School)
- Tyler Barnes – Gettysburg, PA (Benjamin Logan High School)
- Taytum Daniels – Saint Ignatius, MT (Benjamin Logan High School)
- Mia DeLong – Montpelier, VT (Bellefontaine High School)
- Kelley Forsythe – Little Rock, AR (Benjamin Logan High School)
- Kate Hahn – Grants Pass, OR (Benjamin Logan High School)
- Lilly Hudson Kenner – LA (Bellefontaine High School)
- Hailey Kennedy – Naples, FL (Benjamin Logan High School)
- Annabelle Myers – Jasper, TX (Bellefontaine High School)
- Lily Rudolph – Palo Alto, CA (Benjamin Logan High School)
- Tristan Sheets – Grants Pass, OR (Benjamin Logan High School)
- Jayden Sims – Dodge City, KS (Bellefontaine High School)
- Dylan Vance – Portland, ME (Benjamin Logan High School)
- Noah Stanford – Little Rock, AR (Benjamin Logan High School)
Launched in 2019, the American Exchange Project continues to grow, fully funded by supporters who believe in connecting young people across geographical, cultural, and political divides.
To learn more, visit www.americanexchangeproject.org.
