I am writing today on behalf of my daughter, Mariah O’Driscoll. She is a sophomore at Sanford High School. Mariah was recently chosen, out of a number of students, to represent the United States as a student ambassador.

Mariah is a very self-disciplined, energetic, kind and smart young lady. She was chosen as part of the group based on her academic standing and overall outgoing, charming and caring personality. Mariah has always had a taste for adventure, so being a part of the People to People program will be a perfect fit for her. The term “student ambassador” means that Mariah will be traveling with a small group of students and teachers to study, experience and participate in community projects throughout Europe in the summer of 2015.

Mariah, along with her group, will be traveling to Austria, Belgium, England, France, Germany the Netherlands and Switzerland. Some of the experiences awaiting Mariah’s arrival are biking past Dutch windmills, meeting a World War II survivor at the beaches of Normandy, taking a glimpse at the world-famous art at the Louvre, gliding down a mountain on an open-air roller coaster and seeing history come to life as she visits the Anne Frank museum.

Mariah is feeling both proud and honored to be taking a trip of a lifetime. In order to help make this experience possible, Mariah and myself, as well as her father and siblings, have been working diligently to fundraise for the trip. If you live in the Sanford-Sprinvale area, look for upcoming winter and spring bake sales, craft fairs and other events. We will use social media as well as post flyers at local grocery stores to inform people of these events.

Jennifer O’Driscoll, Sanford