Teen seeks help to attend People to People

John Oxford

Sat, May 17 2008

— MOULTRIE — A Colquitt County High School sophomore has been selected to take part in the People to People youth ambassador program, but to take part she needs some help from the community.
Felicia Harris found out in February she was selected to be a part of the ambassador program. She and Wellisane N. Kundi were the only two high school students selected from Colquitt County, she said, and they will be visiting Alaska from June 16 until July 2.
Harris, one of three children to a single mom, said she was very excited to have been selected to take part in the program. Going to Alaska will give her the chance to see places she’s never seen before and meet new people she would otherwise not be able to meet.
“I always wanted to go somewhere to meet new people from different states,” Harris said. “I just really want to go.”
Before she can be a part of the program, though, Harris said she needs some help from the community. The program will cost $5,289, which includes travel, meals and everything, but she has so far raised only $1,800 through Thursday afternoon. If she does not meet a April 11 deadline to pay for the trip, she will be removed from consideration.
To help raise some money for the costs, Grant Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church will be holding a yard sale at 11 a.m. today.
“I really appreciate the opportunity to go,” Harris said. “I would be thankful to anyone who would support me.”
Harris said she plans to go to college after graduation, and she will be the first member of her family to have that opportunity. She is currently ranked 40th out of 584 students in her class, she said, and she will be taking AP courses next year. Being a part of the People to People program will also allow Harris to earn up to 120 college credit hours.
Once enrolled in college, Harris said she plans to major in radiology and wants to become a radiation therapist.