U.K. students speak at Rotary

Bob Badal, president of Jamestown College, introduced Tom Cooke from Northampton and Matt Balshaw from Lancashire, both in England, to speak to Rotary members. The two are attending JC and playing soccer.

Cooke’s major is exercise science and Balshaw’s is in business administration. Both young men are enjoying their time at Jamestown College and living in North Dakota, they said.

They have found studying and playing a sport at the college level can be a juggling act to get everything accomplished.

Each shared why he came to the U.S. to get a college education and play a sport. The soccer team at JC is made up of international players and now has some from the Dakotas and Minnesota.

College education in England is quite different from the U.S. as students in England complete high school at age 16 and they can go to trade school or they can bridge from the high school to a junior college or community college-type education before entering a university. A student with a bachelor’s degree in the U.S. has a step up when going into the job market.

Dr. Gary Watts and associate professor of foreign language Kate Stevenson introduced visiting professor Shuyi Zhu from the University of Huizhou, who is here at JC teaching Chinese. This is the second year the college has had visiting professors from Huizhou. Shuyi said she is enjoying sharing information about her country, language and culture with the students and children of Jamestown and Jamestown College. She will be here through December.

Watts and Stevenson feel the exchange program has been a win-win for the college and Jamestown.

President Quincy Backen welcomed everyone with the Rev. Johnny Rhoad giving the table blessing. Harvey Huber and Gina Dahl led the group in patriotic songs and Robin Anderson collected numerous “Happy Dollars” for Rotary projects. Backen thanked those who helped hang Christmas lights on the trees on Mill Hill.

Nick Schmidt gave the two-minute talk. He is the son of Dr. Dwight and Gwen Schmidt. He grew up in Jamestown and attended school through the ninth grade and then with his twin sister attended Christian High School, Fergus Falls, Minn.

Upon graduation he returned to Jamestown where he did his undergraduate study at Jamestown College before attending chiropractic school in Bloomington, Minn., where he received his doctorate in chiropractic Medicine. He and his wife, Danielle, have a son, Noel. Nick Schmidt enjoys sports and running the half marathon. He currently serves on the Jamestown/Stutsman Development Board and the school at Victory Lutheran Church.

Guests were Rhoad, pastor at the First Presbyterian Church, Jamestown, and student guest from Jamestown High School Brianna Hart, daughter of Tim and Kim Hart. Brianna Hart is involved in volleyball, National Honor Society, Key Club and SADD. She is a senior and plans to major in college in elementary education. The other student guest, Samatha Dick, daughter of Sue and Darold Schmuhl, is a senior and is involved in 4-H, NHS and Key Club. She enjoys psychology and upon graduation would like to attend either Minnesota State University-Moorhead or Bethel College.

Backen noted that Dec. 7 is Election Day for next year’s board. If anyone is interested in running or would have someone to nominate, contact him or one of the current board members.

Shirley Jackson has the program, Larry Hoffman will give the table prayer, Marv Tokach will led the group in music and Dave Smette is the sergeant-at-arms.

Tags: life, clubs