One of the programs that puts the “international” in Rotary International is Rotary Youth Exchange, a study-abroad opportunity for high school students 15–19. The goal is simple but powerful: help young people experience another culture firsthand, build friendships across borders, and create a stronger foundation for peace.
The Rotary Club of Wilsonville both hosts international students and helps local students travel abroad through short-term and long-term exchanges. Long-term students spend a full school year in another country, attend a local high school, and live with multiple host families. Short-term students typically spend four to six weeks abroad, often during the summer.
Wilsonville’s incoming long-term Rotary Youth Exchange student for the 2025–26 school year was Capucine Dresse from France. She arrived in Wilsonville last August and returned home at the end of June. During her stay, she lived with three different host families, spending about three months with each one. That gave her three unique windows into American family life.
“I’ve had a wonderful time with my families and I’m very grateful for everything I’ve had and done with them,” Capucine told the club during a May 14 presentation. “It was a very wonderful time.”
Some of her most memorable adjustments were unexpected — including learning to live with family pets. “When I first came here, I was very scared of animals,” she said. “And all my families had chickens, cats and dogs. So I had to learn how to live with them. I am still scared of chickens, but I really like dogs and care for them, so it’s very fun. And they love you too.”
Capucine attended Wilsonville High School as a junior and quickly became part of the school community. She especially enjoyed the variety of classes available. “I really like the American high school because here you have some courses that we can’t take in France — more fun, I would say — like journalism,” she said. “I might want to work in journalism later, so it was a great experience.” She even had one of her articles published in the high school newspaper. She also helped other students by tutoring French, giving them the chance to hear the language from a native speaker.
Athletics became another important part of her exchange year. Capucine played soccer, basketball and softball. Already familiar with soccer — or football, as it is known in France — she became the leading scorer on Wilsonville’s JV2 team. Basketball reconnected her with a sport she had played when she was younger, while softball gave her the chance to learn something completely new. She had previously played baseball.
Outside of school, Capucine experienced Thanksgiving, prom, football games, Rotary meetings, and travel throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Her trips included Seattle, Portland, the Oregon Coast, the Oregon State Fair, California, and Central and Eastern Oregon. “I really like the state,” she said. “It’s a beautiful state. So I loved discovering everything.”
A special highlight was attending two professional basketball games in Portland, including one where she saw her favorite player, Carla Leite, who is also from France.
Looking back, Capucine expressed deep gratitude to the Rotarians, host families and community members who made the year possible. “I’m very happy to live this experience that changed my life,” she said.
If you are interested in hosting an exchange student for 3–4 months, please contact us using the form below. If your student is interested in youth exchange, inquire at the same email. There is extensive information at YouthExchange5100.org.
