FOLEY – The City of Foley is proud to highlight the growing international connections fostered through its sister city relationship with Hennef, Germany—particularly among the city’s youth.
At a recent Foley City Council meeting, Mayor Ralph Hellmich and council members recognized a group of Foley High School students who participated in a cultural exchange program with Hennef. These students served as ambassadors of Foley, representing their community, state, and nation abroad.
“These ambassadors, so to say, have represented our city, our state, and our country, and we’re proud to recognize them today,” Mayor Hellmich said.
The honored students included: Gabrielle Butler, Briley Riedel, Jordan Thomas, Courtney Blackwell, Sarah Sullivan, Olivia Jones, Claire Reissiger, Rose Marie Rodriguez, Drake Zarro, Alexander Beckworth, Cooper Watkins, and Richard Andrew Storey.
Student Alexander Beckworth described the trip as a life-changing experience.
“This was probably one of the best cultural experiences I’ve ever had,” he said. “Germany felt like home. I made strong connections with friends there, and we still talk every day.”
The students were accompanied by Foley High School teacher Michael Roy, who also found the exchange to be a deeply enriching experience.
“This trip was the journey of a lifetime—not just for the students, but for me as well,” Roy said. “It was inspiring to speak with German educators, compare approaches to teaching, and gather new ideas I can bring back to benefit our school here in Foley.”
Roy noted that the program is growing, with plans to expand the next trip to include even more students.
Linda Spangrud, executive director of Foley Sister Cities, shared updates on projects born from the exchange. One unique collaboration was the creation of a bilingual cookbook titled Cooking Connects, featuring more than 80 recipes contributed by families and students from both Foley and Hennef.
“The cookbooks were quite an adventure—translating two languages, converting measurements between metric and standard, and finding substitutes for ingredients not available in each country,” Spangrud said. “But the result is something truly special.”
Cooking Connects will be officially released on May 15 at Dorothy June Booksellers in downtown Foley during the city’s monthly Third Thursday celebration.
Spangrud also announced that students are working on an international art exchange, further strengthening the cultural bridge between Foley and Hennef.
Through these collaborative efforts, Foley continues to build meaningful global relationships and create unique learning experiences for its young residents—connections that will last a lifetime.