Funds sought to send Valley student to represent Alaska in Japan

Burchell High School sophomore Autumn Garrett is the only delegate from Alaska invited to be part of an international group of students set to travel to Japan for a month this summer.

Garrett has been invited to participate in the Student Diplomacy Corps in a program called “Beyond the Storm — Sustainable Energy and Recovery.”

Students will live with host families, meet victims of earthquake and tsunami from Fukushima to Kobe, attend classes on sustainable living, and participate in reconstruction efforts.

But to get there, Garrett will need her community’s help. The opportunity includes a $4,000 scholarship to cover program fees, but Garrett needs to raise an additional $2,500 for airfare and other travel costs by June 5.

The Mat-Su Schools Foundation is collecting tax-deductible donations on her behalf. Donations can be made online at bit.ly/1p7HKzS, or by mail at sending checks to Mat-Su Schools Foundation, P.O. Box 873413, Wasilla, AK 99687-3413. Please indicate on checks that the funds support Garrett’s trip.

For more information, visit bit.ly/1o0lXgf.