A pair of Calera Middle School students will be traveling down under this summer as part of a student ambassador program.

The People to People Student Ambassador Program, which was founded by former president Dwight Eisenhower, recently named Calera Middle students Shelby Middleton and Ariel James as part of its June 2010 American delegation.

Through the program, the students will travel throughout Australia during a 14-day visit as they learn about the country’s people, culture and history.

Before they were named ambassadors, the pair of students submitted letters of recommendation, and successfully completed an interview process. To prepare for the journey, the students have attended several orientation meetings with their fellow delegates.

Rebel Gray, a principal from Crumly Chapel Elementary School in Birmingham; Beth Howell, a teacher at Maddox Middle School in Jasper; and retired teacher Rhonda Gray will lead the group of students.

Once the delegation arrives in Australia, they will be met by an Australian resident who will explain the locations the delegation visits.