Gastonia Sister Cities

09/04/2026

HEY, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS…We have a challenge for you:

Do something that scares you.
Go somewhere you've never been.
Meet people who live differently than you.
Try food you've never tasted.
Use a language you've been learning.
Come home seeing the world differently.

That’s what the Gastonia Sister Cities Student Exchange is all about. For Summer 2027, students will have the opportunity to travel to Germany or Peru as part of a cultural exchange experience. And the best part? The journey starts before you ever board the plane with Cultural Classes designed to prepare you for the adventure. Ready to see where the world can take you?

Sister Cities Interest Meeting Monday, September 14th 6 p.m. Gastonia City Hall 181 S. South Street
If you are in HIGH SCHOOL (9-11 grade) or have a student that is interested we encourage you to attend our Gastonia Sister Cities Interest meeting. You will learn about our exchange program and be able to ask any questions you might have about our program. We will discuss what it means to be a student ambassador to our Sister Cities in Germany or Peru during summer 2027! NO RSVP NECESSARY.

Learn more here: https://loom.ly/ypmUfUw

08/26/2026

Sister Cities Interest Meeting Monday, September 14th 6 p.m. Gastonia City Hall 181 S. South Street

If you are in HIGH SCHOOL (9-11 grade) or have a student that is interested we encourage you to attend our Gastonia Sister Cities Interest meeting. You will learn about our exchange program and be able to ask any questions you might have about our program. We will discuss what it means to be a student ambassador to our Sister Cities in Germany or Peru during summer 2027!
NO RSVP NECESSARY.
Want to learn more ahead of time: https://loom.ly/UfJT2bA

08/24/2026

We are looking for interested middle and high school students who want to make a local impact with a global mission.
Over the school year we will work to:
Build leadership, teamwork, and creative skills
Earn service hours and recognition
Strengthen eligibility for Sister Cities travel opportunities

Learn more about Peace Crew here: https://loom.ly/ZzrgJZ4
Link to Peace Crew Interest Form: https://loom.ly/XXS8JQ4

08/22/2026

Hey Parents...are you already thinking about summer 2027 vacations?

Gastonia Sister Cities is looking for high school students who are curious, adventurous and ready to experience the world beyond their hometown. No need to have traveled the world before. You just need to be willing to take the first step.

Sister Cities Interest Meeting Monday, September 14th 6 p.m. Gastonia City Hall 181 S. South Street
If you are in HIGH SCHOOL (9-11 grade) or have a student that is interested we encourage you to attend our Gastonia Sister Cities Interest meeting. You will learn about our exchange program and be able to ask any questions you might have about our program. We will discuss what it means to be a student ambassador to our Sister Cities in Germany or Peru during summer 2027! NO RSVP NECESSARY.

Learn more about Gastonia Sister Cities https://loom.ly/ypmUfUw

Photo of City of Gastonia logo

08/14/2026

FALL 2026 UPDATE: Interest Meeting Monday, September 14 at 6 p.m. City Hall of Gastonia, 181 S. South Street.
If you are in HIGH SCHOOL (9-11 grade) or have a student that is interested we encourage you to attend our Gastonia Sister Cities Interest meeting. You will learn about our exchange program and be able to ask any questions about our program. We will discuss what it means to be a student ambassador to our Sister Cities in Germany or Peru during summer 2027!
NO RSVP NECESSARY.

YOUR PASSPORT IS CALLING.
What if your classroom could take you to Germany or Peru?
Gastonia Sister Cities is recruiting high school students for the Summer 2027 Student Exchange Program!

Students selected for the program will spend the school year learning about the language, culture and history of their destination—and then experience it all in person during a summer exchange.

Travel internationally
Experience another culture
Make lifelong friendships
Build language skills
Represent Gastonia as a Cultural Ambassador

Could 2027 be the summer you see the world?

Learn more: https://loom.ly/ypmUfUw

07/28/2026

Today is Peru's Independence Day...if you're a Peruvian tell us how you celebrate this day!

To learn more check out the link below.
https://www.cachilife.com/when-is-the-peru-independence-day/

07/03/2026

On the eve of America’s 250th, Mayor Knut Kreuch and Mayor Pro-tem Jim Gallagher, signed a document together today in Gotha’s Historic City Hall.

With it, the 33-year-old German-American city partnership is recognized as a special link between the two cities in the sign of peace and international friendship, and affirms that in the future, especially the bilateral exchange of students should be continued and intensified.

Am Vorabend des 250. Jahrestages der Unterzeichnung der Unabhängigkeitserklärung der Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika unterzeichneten Oberbürgermeister Knut Kreuch und der Beigeordnete der amerikanischen Partnerstadt Gastonia, Jim Gallagher, heute im Bürgersaal des Historischen Rathauses gemeinsam eine Urkunde.

Mit ihr wird die inzwischen 33-jährige deutsch-amerikanische Städtepartnerschaft als eine besondere Verbindung beider Städte im Zeichen des Friedens und der Völkerfreundschaft gewürdigt und bekräftigt, dass auch künftig insbesondere der beiderseitige Schüleraustausch fortgesetzt und intensiviert werden soll.

Im Beisein von Mitgliedern des Stadtrates und Vertretern des Partnerschaftsvereins würdigten Kreuch und Gallagher in ihren Reden die bisherigen Meilensteine der Städtepartnerschaft und das außerordentliche Engagement zahlreicher Unterstützerinnen und Unterstützern des Austauschs.
Gastonia Sister Cities
City of Gastonia Government

06/18/2026

We are so thankful for the last 10 days here in Germany and not ready to leave! We explored many different cities and made wonderful memories with our host families. Thank you Gotha for having us!! 🇩🇪