Eutin Timeline 2010-2019
June-July 2010
High School Exchange participants were Martin M., Jackson Mercer, Alex Noller, Nichole Simpson, and Christian Wallace. They were led by Jason Crawford.
September 2010
Eutin Gymnasium students arrived for six weeks in Lawrence hosted by the High School Exchange families.
The numbers of interns increased dramatically. In summer 2010, 10 interns from Lawrence worked in Eutin; Lawrence hosted three here. The Lawrence Journal World, Sept. 6, 2010, reported.
September 2010
Eutin Gymnasium students arrived in Lawrence to be hosted by the High School Exchange families.
April 2011
Seven visitors from Eutin included Wolfgang Nimmich, brewmaster and senior chef of St. Michael’s Brewery, Hans Wilhelm Hagen, president of Volksbank Eutin and co-chair of the Eutin Summer Opera Festival, and Martin Vollertsen, president of Freunde-von-Lawrence. Freestate Brewery tapped a keg that followed a recipe for St. Michael’s beer in Eutin: the occasion was reported by the Lawrence Journal-World, April 18.
January 2011
Musicians from the University of Kansas music department were invited to give concerts in Eutin. It was an experiment to determine whether collaboration between the department and the Eutin Summer Festival organizers would solve some financial difficulties for the coming season. The musicians included Robert Walzel, Dean of the School of Music, David Neely, KU Orchestra Director, and five students: Lukasz Lagun, violin; Robert McNichols, bass baritone; Hugo Vera, tenor; Amy Cahill, soprano; and Kristian Bucy, soprano. If the concert was succesful and they are invited back, they would expect to take an entire orchestra and performers to perform in the summer festival. The Lawrence Journal World reported on this unique endeavor. (Read more in the December newsletter below.)
July-August 2011
Over seventy KU student musicians and faculty members traveled to Eutin for about six weeks in July and August, working very hard to make the Eutiner Festspiele (festival) successful. Their summer program included the organization of a summer music institute, preparations a KU production of Humperdink’s “Hansel und Gretel”, the opera orchestra for Mozart’s “Don Giovanni,” and several public concerts by vocalists and instrumentalists. After the premiere of “Don Giovanni”, Conductor Rudolf Piehlmayer praised the youthful KU orchestra for its hard work, dedication, and success. Hans Wilhelm Hagen and Klaus Hoth, Eutin’s prime movers behind the Eutiner Festspiele, were more than satisfied. (Read more in the December newsletter below.)
“KU School of Music students performing in two operas in Eutin, Germany,” Lawrence Journal World, July 19, 2011, announces the first summer of KU students participating in the Festival performances in Eutin.
October 2011
“Lawrence sister cities advance and celebrate relations”, University Daily Kansan, Oct. 6, 2011.
December 2011
“Efforts to Save the Eutin Summer Opera Festival Leads to an Invitation to the KU School of Music”, Friends of Eutin Newsletter.
June-July 2012
High Schools Exchange participants were Lexi Adams, Thomas Ezell, Juliana Hacker, Ian Hierl, Maddie Mielke, Dalen Reed, Emily Van Schmus, Ben Soukup, and Kat Sterbenz. They were accompanied by Lawrence High teacher Elissa Schlumpf.
June - August 2012
For the second year, University of Kansas music student were invited to intern during the Eutiner Festspiele. Thirty-three University of Kansas music students earned international experience in festival performances. Students, chosen by audition, were provided travel, room, and board by the festival organization. They rehearsed and performed alongside professional and local musicians in two orchestral concerts, two chamber concerts and three operas — “Nabucco,” “Die Blume von Hawaii” (“The Flower of Hawaii”) and “L’Elisir d’amore” (“The Elixir of Love”), solid international resume additions. Robert Walzel, dean of the KU School of Music accompanied the students, as report by the Lawrence Journal-World: KU choir students a hit in Germany.
June - July 2013
High Schools Exchange participants were Anna Clayton, Francisco Esparza, Sam Goodwin, Samantha Grinage, Nico Groth, Avery Miller, Aimee Neilsen, Lydia Ortiz, Emma Oury, Genevieve Voight, Marlee Yost-Wolff, and Althea Wilson.
June-July 2014
A delegation from Lawrence visited Eutin at the beginning of June.
High Schools Exchange participants were accompanied by Thomas Lipp.
KU Summer Language Institute was led by Joe Cunningham.
October 2014
The 25th Anniversary Eutin Delegation came to Lawrence led by Martin Vollertsen, President of Freunde-von-Lawrence. “Lawhorn’s Lawrence: Our German friends”, Lawrence Journal World, October 4, 2014.
July-August 2014
Eutiner Festspiel officials invited the KU School of Music to recruit music interns for the chorus and orchestra performances for a fourth year. They play supportive roles to the professional musicians available in northern Germany. Thirteen of the 55-member festival orchestra and six of the 50 vocalists were from KU this year. Robert Walzel, School of Music Dean, accompanied the students. The regional news service, TAZ reported.
June, September 2015
June-July
High Schools Exchange participants were Diane Camarda, Katie Carttar, Maria “Vanessa” Hernandez, Lourdes Kalusha-Aguirre, Sam Goodwin, Marshall Griffin, Jose Paulino, Jack Rische, Charles Sedlock, Haley Van Vleck, and Ireland Ziegler. Students were accompanied by teacher/chaperone, Natalie Wolfe, LHS German teacher.
September-October
The Eutin Gymnasium participants were Katharina Becker, Jana Scherbarth, Lynn Johannsen, Carolin von Damaros, Svea Willhöft, Johann König, Alexander Schmidt, Philip Kardell, Martin Ard, Jonas Richter, Kacy Radestock and Lennart Seidensticker.
The students visited the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve’s one-room schoolhouse north of Strong City.
June 2016
Kelly Scholz, Chairman of the Sister Cities Governing Board, dedicated the new Lawrence Friendship Garden in Eutin’s Seepark during the Eutin 2016 Landesgartenschau (state garden show) which was open to the public for five months (April 28 to October 3.)
June, September 2016 school exchanges
June-July
High Schools Exchange participants were Will Benkelman, Henry DeWitt, Crosby Dold, Carson Drake, Megan Durner, Elizabeth Grinage, Rinny Herndon, Harrison Miller, Olivia Morgan, Pierce Saturday, and Charles Sedlock. The teacher/chaperone was Arne Scholz, former teacher at the Voss Gymnasium in Eutin, now at Lawrence High School.
September-October
The Eutin Gymnasium participants were Lucie Ahrens, Pauline Bockelmann, Niklas Bornhoeft, Janis Gertulla, Jakob Hecht, Julius Herold, Thekla Hilbert, Leonie Krause, Marie Mock, Johanna Moehl, Anna Sirocko, and Thore Steenken.
Lawrence host families prepared a faux Thanksgiving dinner to add to the “all-American” experience.
A large bison sculpture is surrounded by native Kansas flowers and grasses. Friends of Eutin, local donors, and a $2500 gift from the city of Lawrence helped Freunde-von-Lawrence finish the friendship garden. The city and various groups replanted and enhanced almost the entire city water front area.
June 2016
Each year the high school and college institute students are welcomed to Eutin with a reception at city hall where each guest registers in the “Gold Book.” A scenic cruise on Eutin Lake, with refreshments, is provided by local businesses immediately following the official welcome. Here is the report from LN Online: https://www.ln-online.de/Lokales/Ostholstein/Staedtepartnerschaft-entwickelt-sich-zum-Heiratsmarkt
June 2017
According to tradition the Kansas University language institute participants and Lawrence high school exchange students are given an official welcome at a city hall (Rathaus) reception. After speeches and a toast, each student signs the “Gold Book”, then the group walks to the waterfront for a cruise on the lake. LN-Online (news), June 16, 2017 report.
June-July 2017
KU Summer Language Institute: The thirteen students were accompanied by Professor Andrea Meyertholen and Stefanie Wille.
June 2017
High Schools Exchange participants were Hailey Alt, Henry DeWitt, Megan Durner, Izzy Ginavan, Logan Ginavan, Treven Hall, Ivy Herndon, Alvin Janzen, Jamie Macfarlene, Aleksa Mehmedovic, Abigail Murrish,Avahni Pierson, and Abby Solcher. Arne Scholz was the teacher/chaperone.
October 2017
At a reception on October 5 the City of Lawrence honored Martin and Marion Vollertsen, Eutin. They received a special proclamation signed by Mayor Stuart Boley and a key to the city for many accomplishments in organizing events and promoting the relationship between our two cities. Martin served as president of Freunde-von-Lawrence for a decade. “US Partnerstadt ehrt zwei Eutiner,” [US sister-city honors two Eutiners], Ostholsteiner Anzeiger”,October 18.
September-October 2017
Twelve Eutin Gymnasium students were hosted by Lawrence HS Exchange participants. This visit included the 500th participating student since our exchange began in 1990. Katharine Billkar, teacher at the Voss-Gymnasium, accompanied the students. KU Summer Language Institute: The thirteen students were accompanied by Professor Andrea Meyertholen and Stefanie Wille.
September 2017
“Thousands of miles from Lawrence…” University Daily Kansan, Sept. 19, summarized the history and positive contributions of sister city relationships.
June 2018
High Schools Exchange participants were Thomas All, Helena All, Hailey Alt, Megan Durner, Reagan Finkeldei, Morgan Goeser, Madison Goeser, Thomas Guier, Ivy Herndon, Lakota Lewandowski, Lauren Malik, Elias Mardis, Jacob Rayome, Zachary Razak, and Olivia Rothrock. Arne Scholz was the teacher/chaperone.
September 2018
Eutin Gymnasium students were hosted by Lawrence high school exchange families in the fall. Here they are shown on arrival at Kansas City International Airport
June-July 2018
KU German Summer Language Institute was led by Professor Emily Wallace
June 2019
High Schools Exchange participants were Tanthalos Amnotte, Clara Bode, Joseph Burghardt, Alexandra Carttar, Gabriela Decker, Sophia Hamilton, Sadie Heinbach, Anna Beth Johnson, Tayte Markoulatos, Kaileb Ordiway, and Elyzebeth Workman. Arne Scholz was teacher/chaperone. They spent three weeks in Eutin, with outings to nearby cities and Berlin.
30th Anniversary Delegates Visit Eutin
Mayor Lisa Larsen and Vice-mayor Jennifer Ananda traveled with a Lawrence delegation to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of our sister city agreement with Eutin. They are pictured here in the Kansas section of the Eutin friendship garden: (left to right) Larsen, Ananda, Stephan Klein, Friends-of -Lawrence chair, Kelly Scholz, Sister Cities Lawrence vice-chair, Bill Keel, Sister Cities Lawrence chair, and Dieter Holst, chair of the Eutin city council. The delegation also included Sister Cities Lawrence Governing Board members and spouses: Ken and Nancy Albrecht , Bob and Patsy Moody, Bob and Sandra Schumm, Diana Carlin and Joe Pierron, and Jan Miller.
September 2019
Eutin exchange students and their teacher/chaperone, Thomas Drexler, were introduced at a Lawrence City Commission meeting. They were welcomed to Lawrence by Mayor Lisa Larsen, and Commissioners Leslie Soden, Stuart Boley, and Matthew Herbert.
October 11
“German delegation visits Lawrence to celebrate 30th Anniversary”, Lawrence Journal World.
October 2019
October 4
Ostholstein Aktuell, an online news website announced the Eutin delegation’s plans to visit Lawrence. (in German)
Governor’s Proclamation
Kansas Legislator Mike Amyx gave the delegation a tour of the Capitol building in Topeka prior to the group being presented with a proclamation from Governor Laura Kelly. A ‘security event’ prevented the group from actually meeting with the governor. Judge Pierron welcomed members of the group to his chambers in the Kansas Judicial Center across the street.
30 Anniversary Delegation from Eutin visits Lawrence
The Eutin delegation’s visit to Lawrence for the 30th Anniversary began with a tour of downtown, including a demonstration of candle making at Waxman Candles on Massachusetts Street. The 12-member delegation included Bürgermeister Carsten Behnk; Dieter Holst, chair of the Eutin city council; Stephen and Anagret Klein, chair and vice-chair of Friends-of-Lawrence; Patricia and Anna-Christina Wolf; Torben Mothes; Dr. Frank Baudach, head of Scientific Library of Eutin; Dr. Julie Hümme, head of Ostholstein county museum; Juliane Kahlke and Achim Krauskopf, both of the Ostholsteiner Anzeiger newspaper; and Ulrika Plötz, artist.
Celebratory Reception
A reception celebrating 30 years of friendship was held at the Natural History Museum on the University of Kansas campus. Dieter Holst, chair of the Eutin city council and Bürgermeister Carsten Behnk presented Lawrence mayor Lisa Larsen with a compilation of Eutin landmarks drawn by Eutin’s urban sketcher, Ulrika Plötz.
Eutin Timeline Prelude to agreement 1990-1999 2000-2009 2010-2019 2020-present