Heather Sutton, a sophomore at Hancock Place High School, recently was selected as a student ambassador in the People to People International program.

Heather will travel to Australia this summer, where she will spend three weeks learning, sharing and representing her community.

Each student ambassador is selected on the basis of recommendations, school references and/or personal interviews with members of a screening committee. Once students are accepted into the program, they prepare for their overseas project by attending orientation meetings where they study background material on the countries and organizations they will visit.

People to People International is dedicated to enhancing crosscultural communication within each community and across communities and nations.

Tolerance and mutual understanding are central themes.

Though not a partisan or political institution, People to People International supports the basic values and goals of its founder, President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Eisenhower founded People to People during his administration, and eight U.S. presidents since have served as honorary chairmen.