This weekend, cyclists from around the tri-state region and across the country are descending on the Covingon area to compete in cyclo-cross races. Cyclo-cross is a form of bicycle racing that combines different terrains, obstacles and steep hills.
On Saturday the Rotary Club of Covington will sell concessions at the Pan Am Continental Cyclo-cross Championships in Devou Park to raise funding to send a Covington High School student overseas to study for 9–10 months.
The budget for the project is $6,000 annually. The Covington Rotary Club also is collecting sponsorships from local organizations and individuals for the student exchange project.
Sponsors to date include:
Bresser & Sons Roof
Dirt Artisans
Forcht Bank
Republic Bank
Gordon Blitch
Orleans Development Tony Kruetzjans
The Law Firm of B. Dahlenburg Bonar
Chuck Scheper
Jon Bennett
Joseph Meyer
Linneman Funeral Homes
Jordan Huizenga
South Bank Partners
JD Miller Group
Crafts & Vines
C Forward
Modern Design Illustration
Sherry Carran
Ralph Bailey
Latonia Business Association
Barleycorn’s
Colonel De Herbs and Spices
Yankee Doodle Pretzel
St. Elizabeth Foundation
Remke’s
Teasdale Fenton Restoration
Master Provisions
Earl Franks Sons/Daughters
Herzog Jewelers
Diana Taylor
Tom Gaither
The exchange student studies overseas for 10 months. The student lists his or her preference of seven countries from the non-English speaking countries that participate in the exchange program, and Rotary tries to give the student their first choice.
The project budget covers fees to the Rotary group that processes the student’s application, passport and visa fees, the student’s attendance at required training programs, medical insurance in the host country, a fund for emergencies required by the host country, and an open ended airline ticket. The Covington Rotary Club pays all expenses.
Students from Covington Holmes, Covington Latin and Holy Cross, the three secondary schools in Covington are invited to participate. The Club wants students whose families could not pay for this experience.
So far the Covington Rotary Club has sent students to Spain and Germany and presently has a Holmes High School student in Turkey.
For more information about the Cyclo-cross championship and sponsorship opportunities please contact Rotarian Angie Billiter at 859-801-8691 or angelabilliter@yahoo.com.
For more information about the Student Exchange program, please contact Rotarian Arnold Taylor at 859-331-2000 or ataylor@ortlaw.com.
For more information about the Covington Rotary Club or to make reservations to attend a club meeting, please contact Covington Rotary Club President April Coffee at 859-801-9143 or acoffee@republicbank.com.
