3/21/2006 - “Imagine How I Would Have Felt…” - US Ambassador Eaton Visits AFS Panama
Recently the new US Ambassador to Panama, H.E. William Alan Eaton, paid a courtesy call to the AFS office in Panama, where he reiterated the importance of the work that AFS does around the world and offered the Embassy’s support for the organization’s programs. AFS officials in Panama presented the Ambassador with information about the work of AFS Panama and the tremendous expansion in activities the organization has experienced over the past 5 to 6 years.
Ambassador Eaton, no stranger to AFS and intercultural exchanges, credits his interest in international service to his AFS program year which he spent in West Vlaanderen, Belgium. He also credits his mother, who lived a life of giving to others.
In 1979, after graduating magna cum laude from the University of Virginia and later working as a reporter/news editor for the Shenandoah Valley-Herald where he won a Virginia Press Association award for his writing, Ambassador Eaton joined the U.S. Department of State. In Washington, he has served in numerous senior management positions including, Assistant Secretary of State. Ambassador Eaton also served overseas in Guyana, Italy, Turkey and Moscow.
In his new role as ambassador from the United States to Panama, he plans to travel throughout the country to acquaint himself with the land and its people and meet with current AFS students. He explained why he takes the time from his busy schedule to do this by saying, “Imagine how I would have felt if the Ambassador from my country visited me when I was an AFS Participant.”
“We were honored that Ambassador Eaton took the time to visit us,” said Karolina Camargo, the AFS Partner Director in Panama “After our meeting I can confidently say that Ambassador Eaton still holds the values that AFS instills in its participants very close to his heart. We are very pleased to count with his support and we look forward to the opportunity of working together.”
In the photo (L to R): Karolina Camargo, National Director AFS-Panama, US Ambassador to Panama, H.E. William Alan Eaton, Lilia de González, Secretary, Board of Directors, AFS-Panama, Philipp Romer, German AFS student and intern at AFS-Panama, Manuel Delgado, Sending Coordinator, AFS-Panama and Roberto González, Member, Board of Directors, AFS-Panama
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