eXchange Meets Lady Liberty: A Tour of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
By James R. Cappabianca '05
Last week, two students from Barcelona, Spain and two from Milan, Italy – participants in eXchange, Xavier’s international exchange program – visited the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island as part of their immersion experience within Xavier’s international student program. This field trip was the culmination of the international experience for Marc Vives and Ignasi Ramoneda, the two students who came to New York City from Sant Ignasi, a premier Jesuit secondary school in Barcelona, Spain.
Via ferry boat, Lorenzo Albanese, Giovanni Rolandino (Lorenzo and Giovanni are semester long exchange students from Milan), Marc Vives and Ignasi Ramoneda were led by coordinator Mr. James R. Cappabianca ’05 first to Liberty Island, where the students had the opportunity to take in the New York City skyline as they made their way up to the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. After some good sight -seeing and a tour around Liberty Island, the students then embarked on a tour of the Ellis Island museum – a museum dedicated to capturing the immigrant experience into the United States.
Mr. James R. Cappabianca described the visit to Ellis Island as “an example of what Xavier’s exchange program is trying to accomplish.” He went on to say, “The experience of studying abroad in New York City is unique in the sense that New Yorkers have a deep and very real connection to the immigrant experience. I’m sure the boys who participated in eXchange could relate the experience of the immigrant – the sharing of culture and perspective with others of differing backgrounds – with their own experience at Xavier and their time here.”
On his overall experience at Xavier, Marc Vives commented, “The opportunity to experience life at Xavier High School in New York City was something that will stay with me for a long time. Brooklyn was my favorite – I was able to take advantage of the neighborhood feel of New York and really experience student life from the perspective of my host student, Christopher Ancona '15.”
Senior Christopher Ancona, a participant within eXchange who will study in Barcelona this winter, found the experience of hosting a student from Barcelona to be something that models Xavier’s mission of embodying a global perspective on relationships and connectivity. “Xavier has taught me the inherent value of experiencing new cultures and diverse perspectives on life. Welcoming Marc into my family has enriched my time here at Xavier; I know that I have made a friendship for life and that my experience abroad will be another integral part of my personal growth here at Xavier.”
eXchange is a program that actualizes the mission of the Society of Jesus and the hallmarks of a Jesuit education founded by St. Ignatius Loyola and St. Francis Xavier. The goal and mission of eXchange is essentially three fold: (a) educational – student-to-student connection, collaboration and partnership, as well as an awareness and adoption of alternative, multi-faceted approaches to learning and an enhanced interest in global issues and concerns; (b) personal – shared experiences academically, socially and culturally. Additionally, a sense of accomplishment upon completion that encourages students to develop independent opinions, make informed decisions and strive to attain the magis – excellence in all areas, central in Ignatian pedagogy; (c) institutional – the sharing of new and innovative educational programs and styles of learning among entire school communities.
For more information about eXchange, please contact Mr. James R. Cappabianca, Coordinator of eXchange, at cappabiancaj@xavierhs.org.
*Xavier High School would like to personally thank the Kinsella (Rory ’17), Kelly (David ’15), Nolan (Brian ’16), and Ancona (Christopher ’15) families for generously opening their homes to these international students. Their partnership and support is essential to the success of the program and all that we do here at Xavier High School.