Penn Exchange Students Experience June in Germany

While we are back in school now, we’d like to take a look back at a summer trip that 15 of our students got to experience.

The German American Partnership Program (GAPP) has been running at Penn High School since 1999 under the leadership of Elizabeth Dix. GAPP is an initiative of the Goethe Institute to encourage intercultural exchange, dialogue and friendship. It is an exchange, with a group of German high school students coming to visit Penn in the fall, and Penn students visiting Germany in the early summer. Our partner school is Christian-Rohlfs-Gymnasium in Hagen, Germany, and students on both sides get to practice their language skills and experience true student life and what it is to be a teenager in another country. 

The students were in Hagen for 25 days, leaving right after graduation. While in Germany, our students lived with host families, went to school with their partner, experienced new activities, new food, and new landmarks to say the least. Some highlights were the Cologne Cathedral, touring a WWII submarine bunker, seeing the famous Bremen city musicians, and so much more. Students returned to the States with a renewed sense of curiosity, respect for other cultures, and, perhaps most importantly, more confidence in their German language skills.

15 Penn High School students on their way to O’Hare to travel to Germany. 

Reunited at last! 2024 Penngrad Lillian Gregory (right) with partner Nele.

Penn Senior Avery Pawlak (right) with partner Gerald in Hagen.

Above is a picture of the entire group, with Frau Tarbet Burnett to the far right.

Each school day, the American students would get together in our designated classroom for “American hour,” where they would spend time discussing experiences and cultural differences, and work on language practice to use with their host families. 

The entire group of German and American students at the Welcome Party.

The Penn students were blown away by the generosity of their German host families! 

2025 senior Emily Eby (left) and 2024 graduate Kylie Fravel (right) in front of the Cologne Cathedral, one of the region’s top sightseeing destinations. Students also got to tour the inside.

German and Penn students getting ready to climb the Cathedral tower in Cologne.

Students enjoying traditional Bavarian food at a local restaurant in Hagen. Pictured left to right: Fabian, Lillian Gregory, Nele, Joelle, Ruby Lehtomaki

Visiting Zeche Zollverein, a local coal mining plant that’s been turned into a museum.

The Penn group in Bremen, Germany after an informative walking tour.

Pictured left to right: Emily Eby, Kylie Fravel, Oliver Dvorak, Sean Kinnucan, Jack Busch-Evans, Avery Pawlak, Ellie Satre, Adam Herath, Ruby Lehtomaki

Students on a mud flat hike in the Wadden Sea near Cuxhaven! We learned about local ocean life and how this area loses so much water when the tide goes out. 

Students observing the German WWII submarine bunker Valentin.

Thousands of forced laborers worked over several years to construct this structure. It was never completely finished and no submarines were built here during the war.

The group in Hamburg, Germany. Across the water you can see part of the main downtown area. Pictured left to right: Frau Tarbet, Ruby Lehtomaki, Kylie Fravel, Amina Spahic, Sean Kinnucan, Alaina Dudas, Oliver Dvorak, Rebecca Wolter, Avery Pawlak, Adam Herath, Ellie Satre, Lillian Gregory, Jack Busch-Evans, Ian Hahn, Ashlynn Bice.

The students visit Burg Altena, a castle in the area near Hagen. Students learned about the history of the castle and medieval life.

Students enjoy their farewell party by recreating a photo taken when the Germans were visiting Penn. L-R: Luke, Oliver Dvorak, Avery Pawlak, Adam Herath, and being held is Gerald.