Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The next year will be one to remember for Thien Beaty (pictured).

“He is a Springfield Southeast High School student,” said District 186 superintendent Terrance Jordan. “He’s going to spend a year in the Philippines as an exchange student. It’s through the Central States Rotary Youth Exchange program. He is the first from Southeast to do it.

“He’ll be fully immersed into the culture and learning in school there,” continued Jordan. “I’m just surprised that a young person like that has the courage to do that. It was hard for me to move from Mississippi to Springfield!”

Jordan appeared Tuesday on the WTAX Morning Newswatch.