The Anacortes Sister Cities Association is looking for 12 adventurous, outgoing seventh- and eighth-graders living on Fidalgo or Guemes islands to participate in its middle school student exchange with Nikaho City, Japan. The students will represent the city of Anacortes, the Anacortes Sister Cities Association and their families as youth ambassadors.

An informational meeting about the student exchange is 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21 in the Anacortes Public Library meeting room. All interested seventh- and eighth-graders and their parents are encouraged to attend. For more information, call Cora Amburn-Lijek evenings/weekends at 299-4335.

This exchange, which began in 1994, is a two-year program beginning in January 2009 and ending in August 2010. The first summer, 12 Japanese students will visit Anacortes and live with their Anacortes student for eight to 10 days. The second summer, the 12 Anacortes students along with several chaperones and adult travelers will visit Nikaho City and live with their Japanese student for eight to 10 days. In order to prepare the students for the visits, weekly Japanese language and culture classes will be arranged by ASCA.

The application process includes an application form, reference letters, a copy of last year’s report card and an interview. A committee of adults who have all been to Nikaho City will review the applications to select students for an interview. They will then select 12 students for the two-year program.

The cost of the program includes one round-trip ticket to Akita, Japan, approximately $50 per year for Japanese lessons, $35 per year for ASCA family membership, the cost of activities with the Japanese student when he or she visits, the cost of gifts for the host family, the cost of a passport and spending money for the student while in Japan. The goal is for the students to raise enough money to cover the cost of their tickets through fundraisers.

Each year ASCA assists with the Anacortes Youth Sports Coalition auction and sponsors a golf tournament. Both of these fundraisers, which students and parents help with, provide part of the funds for exchange students’ airfares. The rest of the funds are raised through fundraisers headed up by each family or families working together.

Applications and a copy of last year’s report card should be sent to Anacortes Sister Cities, P.O. Box 1464, Anacortes, WA 98221, Attention: Cora Amburn-Lijek by Tuesday, Oct. 21. References should be mailed by the person giving the reference by Oct. 21.

Call Amburn-Lijek or e-mail with questions.