DATE: Thursday, March 13, 1997              TAG: 9703120127

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 03   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: THUMBS UP 

SOURCE: BY SHIRLEY BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER

DATELINE: NEWSOMS                           LENGTH:   77 lines

ASHLEY JOHNSON PEOPLE TO PEOPLE STUDENT AMBASSADOR

Koala bears are nothing new to 13-year-old Ashley Johnson.

Her mother, Melanie, has been collecting them for years. . . about 30 stuffed, cross-stitched, and porcelain bears in all sizes.

In June, however, Ashley hopes to experience a live, close-up encounter with both koalas and kangaroos on a visit to Bunya Wildlife Park, the only facility in Australia that allows visitors to hold koala bears. She may even sample a ``rooburger'' made of kangaroo meat, which resembles the beef hamburger.

An eighth-grade gifted student at Southampton Middle School in Courtland, Ashley has been selected to travel to Australia as a People to People Student Ambassador this summer. She will join three chaperones and a 34-student delegation for a 16-hour flight to the land ``down under'' for meetings with teenagers and government officials. The three-week trip also will include home visits with host families.

People to People was started by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1957. He believed that individual Americans reaching out in friendship to citizens of other countries could contribute significantly to world peace.

``Student Ambassadors are carefully interviewed before their acceptance, and we are expected to share our overseas experiences with schools and civic clubs when we return,'' Ashley said. ``I believe it's a wonderful `chance in a lifetime' opportunity to travel to a foreign country and learn about its culture and people.''

``When I first heard about it, I thought . . . it's a different continent. ``But now, I'm excited about it. I don't usually get homesick.''

A native of Franklin, Ashley is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Johnson. Her brother, Kyle, is 8-years-old.

Ashley is treasurer of both the Newsoms' 4-H club, the ``Lightning Bolts,'' and the Acteens at Boykins Baptist Church in Boykins. She has taken piano lessons for six years, and in her spare time, likes to read and daydream.

Last year, Ashley spent a week at a Summer Enrichment Camp at Ferrum College, where she ``surfed the net,'' learned Swahili in a study of East Africa, and took a class in clowning.

In 1994 and 1995, she attended Governor's School at Paul D. Camp Community College in Franklin.

In preparation for the Australian trip, Ashley and her mother have attended an orientation meeting at the Hampton Library. To ease the culture shock, students were given a list of ``Aussie Talk.'' Ashley learned that she could eat a ``bickie'' (cookie), put on a ``bathers'' (swim suit) and jump into a``billabong'' (pond).

``We'll have a meeting every month until we leave so we can get to know other kids in the program,'' she said.

Although Australians will be experiencing their winter season in June and July, Ashley has been told to anticipate a variety of climate and temperature conditions.

After the group's arrival, the first stop will be Cairns, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Glass-bottom boats, snorkeling, and scuba diving will be available for observing coral formations and reef fishes.

Ashley will have an overnight stay at a ranch in the Australian Outback. Students will sleep in bunkhouses and tents and get an authentic taste of the frontier Australian lifestyle.

In Yeppoon, Ashley will be introduced to the aboriginal culture. Her final stop is in Sydney, the capital of New South Wales and Australia's largest and most cosmopolitan city.

The program tuition is $3,990, including meals and transportation costs, and Ashley's parents have asked her to help with expenses.

``I'm saving my allowance and baby-sitting in my spare time to raise money,'' she said, `` but I'm writing to friends, family, local businesses and civic organizations to ask for their help in sponsoring me for what I believe is a very worthwhile effort. When I come home, I'll be willing to share my photos and a copy of my journal upon request.'' MEMO: Donations may be made for Ashley's trip by calling 757-654-9721. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER

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