Fundraiser yard sale set for June 1 and 2

By Regina Grayson

A Brantley Elementary School student is about to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.

Thomas &#8220Matthew” Hammett-Hudson has been accepted into the People to People Student Ambassador Program, which is an education travel program founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Hudson, a fifth grader at Brantley School, will explore Europe for 20 days this summer, from June 21 until July 10. He is a member of the Montgomery delegation.

Hudson is the son of Larry and Sandra Hudson of Brantley.

By participating in this program, Hudson can earn credits toward his high school diploma. In the meantime, he gets the extra special opportunity to explore new cultures, meet new people and learn the history of the places he has visited or studied previously.

Last summer, Hudson earned one high school credit in history when he traveled to California for 14 days under the program.

His schedule for this year's trip includes exploring Ireland, Wales, England, Belgium, Holland and France. He will travel with Linda Locklar, a counselor at Montgomery Academy, and with Cindy Evans, a teacher with the Troy City School System, along with 20 other students in the Montgomery delegation. Hudson and his group will unite with 21 other delegates and their leaders from Ohio. After the group arrives overseas, it will be met by another local delegation manager who coordinates the cultural and recreational activities for the group.

Pres. Eisenhower founded People to People during his presidency in 1956 with citizen leaders, including Bob Hope, Olympic champion Jesse Owens, entrepreneur Walt Disney, and Hallmark Cards' founder Joyce Hall. The first delegation traveled in 1959.

&#8220Acceptance into the Student Ambassador Program is an honor,” Sandra Hudson said of her son. &#8220Matthew was first invited to enroll, and then he had to submit letters of recommendation. He also had to successfully complete an interview process. We are very proud of him.”

In a letter from Gov. Bob Riley, Hudson was commended for his achievements and success.

Since there is no government funding for the program, the students must be responsible for their own expenses for the trip. In order to help with Hudson's tuition portion of the program, a fundraising yard sale has been scheduled for Friday and Saturday, June 1 and 2, at the Brantley School parking lot. The yard sales will begin each day at 8 a.m. According to his mother, there will be &#8220tons of stuff, everything imaginable from toys to furniture, home d\u00E9cor and all sizes of clothing.” Cookbooks will also be on sale which were compiled and published by Hudson's aunt, Margaret Sasser of Montgomery.

Anyone who wishes to help fund Hudson's trip to Europe this summer may do so by donating items to the yard sales the morning of June 1.