US VISIT: Government school students promise to be brand ambassadors of AP

VIJAYAWADA: The 10-member delegation of government school students from AP visiting the US has said their America trip not only gave them exposure to world-class institutions but also made them dream bigger.

On the last day of their two-week trip to the US, the team of students visited the White House, the official residence and workplace of the US President. They got a chance to take a round of the iconic building.

This, for these students from ordinary families in AP, marked the conclusion of what has been a successful first-of-its-kind study tour across the seven seas.

The students earlier attended the SDG summit at the UN headquarters in New York, followed by a seminar at Columbia University. They also participated in the International Youth Conference on the sidelines of UNGA. Later, the children travelled to Washington DC where they were hosted for an informal lunch with World Bank officials.

The students held discussions with officials of the US Department of State, which was followed by an hour-long meeting with top officials at the International Monetary Fund.

Rounding off their visit, the 10-member student delegation has promised to be brand ambassadors of Andhra Pradesh. The delegation extended their gratitude to Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and others for this unique and historic initiative.

The delegation was led by the state project director of Samagra Siksha, Srinivasa Rao, and Madhusudhana Rao, Secretary, KGBV, who was the nodal officer for the trip. He facilitated the entire logistics in coordination with Rathnakar Pandugayala, the government’s special representative for North America, in consultation with Vunnava Shakin, special consultative status member, ECOSOC, UN. Two teachers – V. Vijaya Durga and K.V. Hema Prasad - too accompanied the students as teacher guides.

Student M Sivalingamma belongs to AP Social Welfare Residential School Kurnool. D Jyotsana of BR Ambedkar Gurukul School said that she never dreamt about visiting America.

Explaining the selection criteria for the America tour, officials said 103 meritorious students who secured the highest marks in SSC Public Examination 2023 from across all government schools in AP were shortlisted. They were called for a written test on July 31, 2023.  Later, 30 candidates at a 1:3 ratio were shortlisted for a speaking test.

Finally, a committee selected 10 students from the 30 shortlisted candidates. A total of eight girls and two boys representing 9 districts made the cut.