LHS student to study in Germany as exchange student.

Hanna Ashley

LHS student to study in Germany as exchange student.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.

PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — Ludington High School sophomore Hanna Ashley is going to spend her junior year in Germany, studying as an exchange student. She will be living with the Ellrott family in Extertal, Germany. One of the special elements of her trip is that her exchange “sister”, Lea Ellrott, lived with the Ashleys last year as an exchange student. The Ashley family has hosted 17 exchange students over the years, which was a major influence on Hanna deciding to make the trip. Another influence came from her sister, Alaina, who studied as an exchange student in Germany last school year.

Hanna is the daughter of Leona and Scott Ashley.

Hanna received a scholarship through Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX), a scholarship that is part of a Germany-America exchange program intended to encourage the ties and mutual friendship between Germany and America. 

“I decided to apply for the scholarship to CBYX without even imagining that I would get accepted in the beginning,” Hanna said. “I never saw myself being an exchange student like my older sister Alaina. While she took part in this program many people asked me if I would do the same, and I always told them I didn’t think I would. However, as we were dropping off our German exchange student, Lea, at the airport to fly home, I turned to my mom and said ‘I think I want to be an exchange student.’

“So I decided to be brave and at least apply. There was no harm in that. I was worried when I first applied that this wasn’t for me, but over the course of this school year I began to realize more and more how great of an opportunity it would be if I got accepted. I’ve always loved to travel, and to experience new things. I love learning about different cultures, and seeing the geography of different places around the world and the history along with it. I can’t wait to go on this amazing journey. It’s a life changing adventure, that only a minority of people in the U.S. get to experience, and I’m lucky enough to be one of them.”

The application form asked several questions and also required three 500-word essays.

Hanna’s mother, Leona, added that Alaina had such a positive experience that she is returning to Germany to be an au pair, a person who helps take care of a family’s children.

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