Local teen wins congressional scholarship

• Garrett Lokken

Garrett Lokken

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For Garrett Lokken, the second time is the charm.

After applying once before, Lokken, 16, is one of only 250 students nationwide to chosen this year to receive a Congress Bundestag scholarship.

Since 1983, the congressionally funded youth exchange program has funded a year-long opportunity for high school students to live and attend school in Germany. Lokken will be in Washington D.C. next week to meet members of Congress before leaving for Stade near Hamborg for an intensive one month language course.

Lokken has studied German for two years at Hudson High School. He will receive full credit for his year in Germany and will return to HHS as a senior next year. Following his German language immersion course in Stade, he will move to Bremen where he will live with his host family and where he will attend school. He said he has spoken with other foreign exchange students who tell him that he will pick up the language pretty quickly and hopefully be fluent by Christmas. “I’ll know I’ve got it when I can order at a restaurant.”

Lokken, who is the son of Scott and Kym Lokken of Hudson, said the thing he is most looking forward to is meeting the people. He spent more than three weeks in Germany last summer in connection with a Holocaust study and is anxious to return. He is also excited about the chance to live with a host family and get to know what everyday life is like. He is not expecting any visitors from home while he is away and won’t be making any return trips to Hudson either.

Lokken said that along with his family, he will probably miss the food back home most, “especially the burgers.” He was able to finagle his favorite pasta recipe out of the chef at San Pedro and he plans to share it with his host family. He also knows a thing or two about German food after working at Hudson’s Winzer Stube. He plans on taking Wisconsin honey and maple syrup as gifts for his new friends.

Lokken said he plans on getting an appointment to the U.S. Navel Academy following his graduation. His experience in Germany will be an asset on that application.

For more information about the scholarship and the program go to www.usagermanyscholarship.org.

Tags: education, college, scholarship, germany