The Rotary Club of Shepherdstown proudly celebrates the conclusion of a remarkable year for our Rotary Youth Exchange student, Lucie Gilson of Liège, Belgium.
Lucie arrived in West Virginia in August 2025 with a willingness to try new things, learn a new culture, and fully embrace the experience before her. She did exactly that—with curiosity, enthusiasm, courage, and grace.
Over the course of the year, Lucie became part of our community while living with the Keys, Wabnitz, and Gray families and being guided by her dedicated Rotary counselor, Lucia Valentine. Through their generosity and support, Lucie experienced the very best of Shepherdstown, Rotary, and life in the United States.
And Lucie did not waste a minute.
She walked on to the coveted high school cheerleading team and danced her way into the hearts of many. When cheerleading ended, she immediately joined the lacrosse team. Back home, Lucie had been a Belgian jiu-jitsu champion, so it was no surprise that her competitive spirit and athletic ability carried her into new challenges here. She also tried snowboarding, took the polar bear plunge, and proved again and again that she is a very good sport.
Lucie also brought a generous spirit into every home and gathering. She loves to cook and was just as happy preparing an entire meal as she was lending a hand in the kitchen. She shared Old World recipes from her grandmother’s kitchen, including freshly made crêpes that may have helped make her even more popular with friends and classmates.
Academically, Lucie excelled. Straight A’s came naturally, but she wanted to be challenged, so midway through the year she changed several classes and mastered the new ones as well. She even learned to play the piano.
Her year also included extraordinary travel experiences: Washington, D.C.; Universal Studios in Florida; New Orleans; sailing in Baltimore; and 10 glorious days around the West Coast, including the Grand Canyon, San Francisco, and Las Vegas, just to name a few.
Rotary Youth Exchange exists to build peace and understanding through cultural immersion, and Lucie’s journey is a shining example of that mission in action. She shared her own traditions and perspective, learned from ours, and reminded us how powerful personal connection can be across countries and cultures.
As Lucie returns to Belgium, she will begin a summer job and then start law school in September, living on campus and taking the next step toward what is surely a very bright future.
Lucie leaves America with a new appreciation for this land we love, and with lifelong connections made through her Rotary families, school, friends, and community. We are grateful to the families, volunteers, teachers, classmates, and Rotarians who made this experience possible.
Lucie, thank you for sharing this year with us. You will always have a home in Shepherdstown.
Feature Photo: Lucie Gilson with her Shepherdstown Rotary host families.
Back row, left to right: Grey Keys, Steve Wabnitz, Jen Wabnitz, Lucie Gilson, Angelina Gray, Matthew Gray, and Louie Wabnitz.
Front row, left to right: Elody Keys, Cara Keys, Michael Keys, Wesley Keys, Bella Gray, and Evie Keys.
