European vacation
By Colin McLaughlin-Alcock
Monday, August 30, 2026

At 12 years old, David Dzierba Jr. already has had an experience of a lifetime.

This summer, he spent two weeks traveling through England and France as part of the People to People Student Ambassador Program, a program started by Dwight D. Eisenhower to give students from sixth grade through high school a unique chance to learn about the history, government, economy and culture of foreign countries.

In the program, Dzierba was exposed to the history and culture of Europe.

“I saw the Mona Lisa and the Venus di Milo,” he said. “I got some sand from the beaches of Normandy. I saw the World War II grave markers that are in ‘Saving Private Ryan.’ I went across the English Channel. I went to Oxford and saw where ‘Harry Potter’ was filmed.”

Dzierba went up the Eiffel Tower. He cruised the Seine River in Paris and the Thames River in London. He went to Stonehenge. He saw Big Ben, watched the changing of the guard, saw the crown jewels, rode a double decker bus and climbed aboard the London eye, the biggest Ferris wheel in the world.

“One cart held 25 people and takes 20 minutes to go all the way around,” he said.

Now home from his trip, Dzierba is eager to show off his photos and momentous and to talk about the experience.

To his parents, it seems the trip helped Dzierba grow.

“I think it was an excellent experience for him,” his mom, Denise Dzierba said. “He seemed a lot more worldly when he came back. He got to experience a lot of things and learned to be a little more independent. He was educated a lot and got to see what other people do and what other kids do.”

David Dzierba Sr., Jr.’s father, said the experience was well worth the sacrifices it took to make it possible.

Read more in Monday's Journal-Register.

Contact Colin McLaughlin-Alcock at (585) 798-1400, Ext. 2225.


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