American Adventure
Hanne Elkjaer has won the Wilcox Scholarship - £1000 for American travel awarded each year to a QE student .
The Wilcox Foundation was set up 11 years ago by Ian Lambert, a former resident of Darlington and a pupil of the then Queen Elizabeth Grammar School. It is in memory of his mother-in-law Laura Wilcox, who welcomed him to America in his youth and who believed in promoting peace through international friendships. Ian Lambert usually returns to Darlington to interview applicants for the scholarship but, this year, was unable to do so. Therefore, for the first time, the students had to submit electronic applications and intensive transatlantic telephone interviews were conducted.
Hanne says:
"It was a demanding process and the telephone interview was long and extremely detailed. I didn't think I'd win it but was absolutely thrilled when I did. It's a fantastic opportunity."
Hanne finishes her A Levels in June and will then embark on her six week American adventure. She'll fly out to Chicago, will spend Independence Day with the Lambert family and will then go on a tour of both the west and east coasts taking in places such as San Francisco, Boston, New York, Washington, Philadelphia and perhaps Niagara Falls. Her flight home will be from Boston.
Hanne concludes:
"I've still to finalise a detailed itinerary but have definite starting and finishing points. I'm sure a highlight of the visit will be spending time with the Lamberts and experiencing the American way of life."
After her A Levels, Hanne will go on to university to study Psychology.
March 16, 2006