On Feb. 16, the Roar Magazine and Pinnacle Yearbook students, along with their teacher, Jan Lemon-Saquella, hosted 21 international investigative journalists, three international visitors’ liaisons and two state department officers as part of a program with Global Ties Arizona, a council for international exchange.
The International Visitor Leadership Program is the U.S. Department of State’s premier diplomatic exchange. The international visitors were described as the UN of Investigative Journalists, representing countries from around the world. Their goal is to gain a deeper understanding of other cultures, political systems and people.
The visitors shared information with the students about their respective countries and experiences as journalists. They also learned about the journalistic writing skill-building programs the school offers, and heard about the school’s 2015 Arizona Interscholastic Press Association’s awards. Red Mountain High School was the only high school the international investigative journalists visited while in the United States.
“I felt honored to meet with people who have dedicated their lives to uncovering the truth,” said senior and Roar Magazine Editor-in-Chief Paul Stanton. “They love what they do, and to have them interested in what we do…it just blows me away. They encouraged me to push myself harder,” he continued. “When I told them about things I want to do, they didn’t just nod and smile. They told me to go out and do it. That’s the mindset I will take from this experience. I have never met a group of more dedicated individuals.”
These are often life altering relationships. Through these interactions, both personal and professional, U.S. citizens take part in citizen diplomacy—one handshake at a time, becoming part of the U.S. Department of State foreign policy efforts.
“As I stood in the room,” Assistant Principal of Student Services Lisa Creaser said, “I thought how lucky these students are because connecting them to experts for an authentic experience empowers them like no textbook can.”
For more information about Red Mountain High School, located at 7301 E. Brown Road, call (480) 472-8000.