April 23, 2013
By Metra Nichols
The “Hefner Initiative” is sponsoring four high school students to travel to Singapore and China for an approximate 10 day cultural and educational program. The students, known as Hefner Awardees, are Juniors from the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics and from the Webb Schools in Claremont, California. The Hefner Awardees will have the opportunity to observe the unique and various cultures of Singapore and enjoy local attractions such as the Singapore Food Festival and the many heritage and art museums in the City-State. The students will also be attending classes at the National University of Singapore High School.
In China, the Hefner Awardees will tour the capital of Beijing, particularly the city’s historical landmarks such as the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven, Great Wall of China, Confucius Temple, and the Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium among others. In addition to exploring the historical sites of Beijing, the Awardees will be staying with local host families in order to experience the culture first-hand and learn about the daily traditions of the Chinese family, foods and lifestyles.
The Hefner Awardees are encouraged to share their experiences from this program with their classmates, friends, family and community upon their return and formally give presentations at their schools.