For the past 41 years, Carl Hill has changed lives.
According to leaders of Rotary District 7360, Hill has had a direct impact on more than 14,000 lives since becoming involved in Rotary International’s Youth Exchange Program.
Hill recently retired from the program and was honored by his peers at Edgewater Acres in Alexandria. Rotarians from Bedford, Carlisle, State College and many other communities celebrated Hill’s long tenure and numerous contributions.
Beginning in 1972, Hill served in a variety of roles for Rotary District 7350 (now 7360) that encompasses central Pennsylvania, western Maryland and northeast West Virginia.
Eventually he became the chair of an organization known as ESSEX, Eastern States Student Exchange. ESSEX handles the student exchange process — from recruiting students worldwide to dealing with the United States Department of State securing visas. Its coverage area runs from Quebec, Canada to North Carolina.
Hill is a great believer in the exchange process as a way for young people to grow, mature and discover how other cultures differ from their own.
Each year, Hill worked with several hundred in-bound students arriving from nation’s around the world, as well as the hundreds of out-bound American students heading abroad.
It is said to be the least expensive, safest and most valuable student exchange program in existence. Part of his job was to assign students to various school districts in the eastern region. He was also responsible for finding the families that served as hosts.
“I think it’s wonderful to see the out-bound students return and see how their lives have been enriched,” says Hill. “Many have clear goals once they get home. It’s a life changing experience.”
Hill explained that the greatest challenge in dealing with the exchange program is helping students who have great difficulties adapting to cultural changes.
“Occasionally you have a student who just cannot make the transition,” says Hill.
Over the years, Hill has hosted 29 students in his home. Often, he helped support those students who could not afford to pay the exchange fee.
“I have so many fond memories of working in the program. I just returned from visiting seven of our former exchange students in their home countries,” Hill offers.
It is not unusual for Rotarians to discover that the international students they hosted become members of their families. Hill knows of Rotarians who have been invited to weddings in Paris and Tokyo.
Though he will no longer serve as the chair, Hill intends to help the new chair complete the mountains of paperwork required by the United States and foreign governments.
Mark Whitfield, public works director for State College Borough, has assumed the role of District Youth Exchange Chair.
