Special to the Star News
More than three dozen students from Elk River and Zimmerman high schools rang in the New Year in Italy on the trip of a lifetime.
The group outside of the Colosseum in Rome.
“I will never forget (it), because of all the natural beauty and architecture,” Zimmerman High School junior Arica Forsti said. “I got to see, learn and do so much in such a small amount of time that no other trip will compare to this one.
“All of the pictures you see of Italy don’t do it justice because it’s something you have to experience for yourself. From riding a gondola in Venice to climbing the Tower of Pisa, Italy showed me what true beauty was. This was truly the trip of a life time.”
The 10-day odyssey began on Dec. 28, 2015, after more than two years of planning. Twenty-four Elk River High School students, six teachers and two administrators doubling as chaperones accompanied 14 Zimmerman High School students and three parent travelers.
The group landed in Milan and proceeded east to the cities of Verona, Padua and Venice.
In Venice, the group was treated to a glassblowing demonstration as well as a gondola ride on the famous canals of Venice.
From there, they traveled south to Florence for two days, which included a morning excursion to the city of Pisa where they were able to see the famous leaning tower.
The group also spent New Year’s Eve in Florence, Elk River High School senior Michael Domeier said.
While in Florence, the group was able to see the beautiful Duomo Cathedral as well as Michelangelo’s stunning Renaissance sculpture of David.
Elk River High School junior Ashley Nething said her favorite memory of the trip was climbing to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
“The view from the top was breathtaking,” she said.
After Florence, the group traveled south to Rome, where they toured the Vatican, the Colosseum, the Pantheon and ruins of the Roman Forum.
Domeier said touring Rome was like stepping back in time — and history.
Ellie Nelson, an Elk River High School junior, said all of the history “makes you appreciate the world in many ways.”
From Rome, the group from Elk River and Zimmerman traveled south through Naples to see the ruins of Pompeii on their way south to the beautiful coastal city of Sorrento.
The group’s last destination was the island of Capri, where they dined on pizza and were able to do some shopping.
In the evenings, students settled into a game of cards and ate Italian chocolates, according to Zimmerman High School junior Morgan Bronken.
Students from Elk River High School to go were Elizabeth Albrecht, Katelyn Brinza, Brooke Burns, Monet Cairns, Lauren Christ, Ashley Daniel, siblings Marina and Michael Domeier, Grace Fonder, Madison Gordon, Chase Gould, Megan Green, Madelyn Hildenbrand, Erin Klang, Mackenzie Literski, Chase Meyer, Ellie Neilson, Nething, Emma Pieper, Chloe Rand, Sophia Schutt, Maddie Siefert, Hailey Stein and Cameron VanBuren,
Zimmerman High School students Julia Petron, Alexis Larson, Bronken, Forsti, Jackie Charles, Makayla Schwieger, Noah Olson, Kelsey Forster, Molly McChesney, Morgan Ziebarth, Alyssa Macht, Danielle Williams, Kaydia Dewey and Samantha Halverson were on the trip as well as parent travelers Lori McChesney, Lauren Ziebarth and Kevin Olson
Chaperones included Karl Sagan, a social studies teacher at Elk River High School; Jessica Sagan, an assistant at Zimmerman High School; Kurran Sagan, an assistant principal at Zimmerman High School; Kim Sagan, an administrator in Anoka-Hennepin School District; Matt Kraus, a social studies teacher at Zimmerman High School; Jenessa Kraus, an English teacher at Zimmerman High School; Rachel Degroat, a special education teacher at Elk River High School; and Chad Degroat.
