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The TowneLaker's
2003 Pathfinder of the Year is Jan Urquhart. Jan's warm smile and willing
heart have blessed many, both here in the States and around the world.
Jan opens her heart as well as her home to foreign exchanges through the
English Learning Institute. This organization is dedicated to finding
quality "homes away from home" for foreign exchange students and adults.
The ages range from college age or just graduating to those already in
the workforce who have always wanted to come to the United States. Jan's
family has had foreign exchanges from Brazil, Korea, Japan and Turkey.
Pinar Canturk from Turkey brought Jan an ancient pottery picture from
her hometown, which Jan proudly displays in her home.
How did Jan and her family become involved
with the English Learning Institute? "I read about this Institute in my
church's bulletin. I wasn't really planning to make a long-term commitment,
just try it for a month or so, but the first girl who came with us stayed
for 10 months." She was from Mexico and coincidently Jan's two daughters
were studying Spanish in school at the time. Their guest helped them with
their Spanish and they in turn helped her with her English. After their
first foreign exchange, the family was hooked on helping as many individuals
as they possibly could. Foreign exchanges come into the states monthly
and Jan's home is always open and ready to accept them.
Jan is a full-time flight attendant for AirTran
Airways and one of the benefits of this organization is the companion
flight tickets she receives. As an AirTran flight attendant, Jan flies
to several destinations within the States and has taken her visiting foreign
exchanges on these trips. They have visited Niagara Falls, both the United
States side and the Canadian side, Washington, D.C., and New York to visit
Ground Zero. "I wanted them to see different parts of the United States,
not just Atlanta," Jan stated.
Also through AirTran, Jan is involved in
Flying Amazing Graces. This is an organization within AirTran that raises
funds for employees in need. "We recently held a golf tournament and raised
more than $3,000 for our employees," Jan said. She also served as chairperson
for an employee cookbook, Cooking With Grace. "We just printed
the
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cookbook and are about out
of them. We have raised more than $4,000
and will need to print more copies," she said.
Prior to joining AirTran, Jan was a full-time
pianist at Hotel Nikko and the French Quarter Suites Hotel. "Both hotels
changed hands at the same time and both discontinued entertainment. I
was out of a job, and my daughters suggested I become a flight attendant.
I thought why not? There were some great benefits to being a flight attendant,"
Jan continued, and so her new career took "flight."
Through her playing piano at Hotel Nikko,
she met a gentleman who owned hotels in Germany. He asked her to come
play at the Hotel Bergstroem in Luneberg, Germany. "The first time I was
a little nervous. I thought was this man for real? My husband came with
me. I still go to Germany every year in June for a month and play at the
hotel." Through these trips Jan became acquainted with several German
students who came to the States and stayed with Jan and her family. "It
was because of these visits that I think our family was comfortable with
having the exchange students."
Jan loves playing the piano and teaches several
students, affectionately known by her students as "Miss" Jan. "The best
age for beginning piano is seven, I have taught children younger and I
have taught older students, I even taught a grandfather," said Jan.
Jan is also very involved with her church,
Mount Paran North, where she has been a member for more than 25 years.
She directs the children's drama program. "We have two big drama productions
each year, and audition more than 100 kids and pick 20. We do a Christmas
program and a program in the Spring. We have costumes and set design.
The production is just like something from the Fox."
Jan is a Georgia native. She met her husband
of 25 years, Wayne, in high school. She graduated from Florida State University
and has lived in Wellesley for seven years. Her two daughters, Erin who
currently attends the University of South Florida in Tampa, and Esther,
who plans to attend Georgia Southern to study culinary arts.
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