In August 2015, Jacopo Alberta, Rotary Youth Exchange student from Italy and sponsored by the Rotary Club of the Mohawk Valley, arrived in Upstate New York. For the next 12 months, he lived in the Mohawk Valley and attended Central Valley Academy in Ilion.
Throughout his year in the Mohawk Valley, he made many new friends for a lifetime. Alberta enjoyed his time at Central Valley Academy by taking part in soccer, golf and attending football games and dressing up for the senior prom. He attended many District 7150 events meeting other Rotary Youth Exchange students and making friends.
During Tuesday’s meeting, Alberta recounted some of his experiences in the United States.
“I have experienced so many things that I have never done before. I went to many basketball games, and baseball games,” said Alberta. He continued his farewell presentation stating “after a couple of days of being here, school started for me and that was interesting, it took me a little bit of time to adjust to knowing my new schedule, but after a month I was having the time of my life. The most rewarding experience was the amount of traveling I was fortunate enough to do” said Alberta.
During his time here he visited many cities including New York City, Keystone, South Dakota where he went to see Mount Rushmore National Memorial, and Orlando Florida to name a few. Of the many places he visited, he said he loved Mount Rushmore the most “it was an incredible view and I will never forget it” proclaimed Alberta.
The Mohawk Valley Rotary wishes the best to Jacopo and hopes he enjoyed being here in the Mohawk Valley as much as all of us enjoyed having him here. Next week the Mohawk Valley Rotary Club will listen to Nate Davenport from Ilion, present his experience as the Clubs outbound Rotary Exchange student. Davenport spent the past 2015/2016 year in Spain.