Village of Oak Creek resident Logan Jankowski, 17, a Sedona Red Rock High School senior, stopped by the regular meeting of the Rotary Club of Sedona Village on Aug. 21 to share with the club his Rotary Youth Exchange over the summer with Arthur Edouart, a short-term cultural exchange student from Lozinghem, France.
“I’ve always wanted to travel internationally, and having another student to go through the process with me seems a good way to get into it,” Jankowski said. “I was over there from July 4 to July 16 and Arthur got to experience Sedona from June 7 to July 3.”
During Edouart’s stay in America, Jankowski introduced him to American culture, from exploring Grand Canyon National Park and traversing Lava River Cave outside of Flagstaff to shopping for American clothing at thrift stores.
“American clothing is very desirable and it’s very expensive there, so we took him to Goodwill to get American clothing for $3, so that was just mind-blowing that clothes would be that cheap,” Jankowski said. “He filled his suitcase as much as he could with used American clothing,” and left “a very happy man.”
Among Jankowski’s extracurricular activities are photography and the mountain bike team. He will be involved in SRRHS fall production of a “A Dickens’ Christmas Carol,” following the hiring this summer of theater teacher Cae Collmar.
“I got to see the Tour de France in person, which is a very big deal for me [because] I’m a cyclist myself, as is [Edouart],” Jankowski. “One thing I remember in detail from the Tour de France … [is] when a big grouping” passes by spectators “this giant gust of wind comes with them, because they’re all pushing the wind together and it’s an amazing experience.”
Academically, Jankowski said he is undecided on what major he will study in college and he is torn between civil and electrical engineering but also has a keen interest in urban planning.
“I’m super into roads and road design myself,” Jankowski said. “In America, we don’t have many toll roads, but in France, almost every national highway has tolls on it to pay for the roads. So, they’d have giant rows of toll terminals, and I was always fascinated to see them.”
“When given the opportunity to choose a novel to read for pleasure, Logan chose Tolstoy,” English teacher Jenifer Simons- Gill wrote. “His intellectual curiosity and thoughtful insights enrich our classroom discussions. From exploring walkable cities to car dependency, Logan’s writing reflects both depth and personal connection. His mind is sharp and his future is bright.”
Originally, Jankowski said he planned on enrolling at Northern Arizona University but that is in flux after getting a mailer from Harvard University encouraging him to apply. There’s an art school in Chicago where he is also debating about enrolling in sound design.
Because of Jankowski’s exceptional PSAT score he is also the first National Merit Scholarship Qualifier at SRRHS since 2019. He anticipates hearing the results sometime in September. This achievement, in part, led the school to award him the May Student of the Month Award.
“A well-rounded and deeply engaged student, Logan has excelled in a rigorous course load that includes multiple Advanced Placement classes,” SRRHS Principal Heather Isom said, presenting him with the award on May 13. “He is an active participant in school clubs, and his involvement extends beyond academics, showing a genuine curiosity and passion for learning in every space he enters.”
“I have known Logan since before he even started school, and he has always been a joy to be around,” SRRHS photography teacher Cindy Wilmer wrote in a prepared statement. “This year, I’ve watched his creativity and technical skills soar in photography. He’s not just a good student — he’s an artist who continues to grow with every assignment.”
For more information about the Rotary Youth Exchange including how to be a host contact Jennette Bill at (928) 301-1363 or at jbill@outlook.com.
