Neve Gebhardt Returns from Italy with Ambitious Future Plans

In July, a cultural exchange program sponsored by the Sedona-Oak Creek Canyon Lions Club connected students from Verde Valley School with their Italian counterparts, creating an enriching experience that spanned three weeks.

Neve Gebhardt, one of the participants and a boarding student at Verde Valley School, shared her journey via email. “I was in Italy from July 6 through 28 this summer,” she noted. “I did charity work for dogs and the blind, and traveled to various cities including Milan, Venice, and Verona.”

Originally from Southern California, Gebhardt is contemplating colleges such as Massey University in New Zealand or Montana State University to pursue equine sciences. The trip to Italy offered her insights into the realities of farm life. “Visiting a farm in Lugo di Vicenza reminded me of the hard work required to manage livestock,” she explained, reinforcing her resolve to face future challenges.

Relationships formed during the exchange were particularly meaningful for Gebhardt. “I met friends from around the globe, and I still keep in touch with them,” she stated, emphasizing the lasting connections made through the program.

Her mother, Celeste, remarked on the trip’s impact on Neve’s growth. “It was her first international travel experience alone,” she said. “Navigating connections and potential travel mishaps boosted her maturity and confidence.”

Neve serves as the senior class president at Verde Valley School and is involved in the National Charity League alongside her mother. They volunteer extensively, undertaking various community projects. “We’ve built a library for an elementary school and helped at a senior center,” shared Celeste Gebhardt.

Neve encouraged her peers to explore the Lions Club’s exchange program. “It revealed aspects of myself that I hadn’t discovered before and fueled my desire to travel and learn about new cultures,” she commented, reflecting on her adventures, including the realization that drinking water wasn’t free in Italy. “I was quite shocked when I couldn’t get complimentary water on a hot day in Bolzano,” she added.

Ben Lee, Head of School at Verde Valley School, praised Gebhardt, calling her “an amazing and wonderful student, equestrian, and an all-around great person.”

Lee also acknowledged the vital role of the Lions Club in the local community. “They support vision health initiatives, including eyeglass drives for distribution in Malawi,” he noted, illustrating the club’s long-standing commitment to service.

The Sedona-Oak Creek Canyon Lions Club also offers college scholarships to graduating seniors. Interested individuals aged 18 and older may contact the club at (928) 282-4126 for more information.