Newsmaker
Monday, July 27, 1998
Name: Harry Cooper
Age: 81
Position: American Field Service representative
Education: Queens University (Ontario), Northwestern
Hobbies: Growing orchids
Of all the jobs 81-year-old Harry J. Cooper has had, none were as rewarding as working for the American Field Service. Aiding youth exchange
After two years as assistant to the president of the AFS in New York, Cooper will take the reins as AFS representative for the state of Hawaii.
"Working for AFS in New York, I saw the value of this type of program where high school students get to go to different countries to live with a host family for a year," Cooper said.
"I strongly believe if people with different cultures can live together, we wouldn't have differences," he said. "We're all the same."
The AFS was established by ambulance drivers in 1947, after World War II. According to Cooper, they wanted to prevent future wars and work on world peace, and they decided to establish an organization that sponsored student exchanges.
"I firmly believe that it's an education process with the young people, with the next generation," Cooper said. "I feel that an AFS experience of taking a high school student from here and placing them with a family overseas who has a child about the same age -- where they go to school, learn their language, spend one year with their (host) family -- that when they come back, they see the light."
Cooper plans to establish a reputation for AFS here in Hawaii, as well as go to schools to speak to students and principals about the program.
"He is very excited about the programs we offer. His primary mission is recruiting students to study abroad," said Raegen Jones, an AFS student admissions coordinator in Oregon.
"He believes strongly in the AFS -- to promote international relations to help young people improve themselves," Jones said.
"One thing that I really appreciate about him is that when he says he's going to do something, he does it. We're really fortunate to have him," she added.
From 1979 to 1984, Cooper was executive director of the Aloha Festivals. From 1985 to 1989, he headed the Festival of the Pacific.
Carl Rossetti, a former treasurer and member of the Aloha Festivals board of directors, said: "He was an energetic, honest and straightforward guy. He's a good organizer and he can do some good planning, and he can execute real well. It was fun to work with him."
By Stan Constantino, Star-Bulletin
