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Crystal Graves is receiving her second donation of $200 from the Masonic Lodge for her Australian trip June 13th . This donation came from the Coins for Children of the Grand Lodge of Illinois and matched the La Harpe Lodge #195's earlier gift that was given to Crystal by local Masons. From left is Supt. Joe Campbell, Crystal, and Lawrence Johnson, Worshipful Master.
Crystal was named as a Student Ambasador for the People to People Network which allows her to join 35 other students in a 19-day trip from Iowa to Australia.
Students are required to raise $5,000 toward the trip and Crystal has now raised $2000.
She is planning to hold some fundraisers to help meet her goal by the May deadline.
Anyone that would like to help Crystal may donate at the First State Bank of Western Illinois in La Harpe or checks may be mailed to Crystal Graves at 108 Monmouth Road, La Harpe IL 61450. Checks should be made out to People to People Network with Crystal's name noted on it.
No donation is too small.
To show her appreciation, Crystal is planning to take many pictures to help share her experiences at an open house she will host for everyone who donates.
While in Australia, students will go to government meetings, have homestays, visit schools, and learn about their culture.
The first four days will be spent in Sydney visiting the 2000 Olympic venues, including the state of the art Telestra Stadium and Aquatic Centre.
A day will also be spent in Canberra taking a special look at the hydroengineering feat known as the Snowy Mountains Scheme.
They will go on to Wagga Wagga, Mildura, and then two days in Geelong for the home stay.
Then two days in Melbourne, two days in Undara exploring ancient lava tubes and enjoying bush poetry around the campfire.
Then it will be on to Palm Cove/Cairns to snorkel above the brilliant coral and exotic sea life of the Great Barrier Reef and feed kangaroos at a wildlife sanctuary.
The People to People Network was started in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
He believed that if people from different cultures could come together in peace and friendship, so eventually would countries.
Since 1956, more than 100,000 young Americans have experienced 35 countries around the globe.
Crystal is a Sophomore at La Harpe High School and the daughter of Tim and Monalisa Graves of La Harpe.
Her grandparents are Dean and Dolly Patterson of La Harpe and Gene and Marna Graves of Gilson.