Meet 2014-2015 exchange student, Raimundo Sandoval

Among the new faces at Riverhead High School this year is that of 16-year-old Chilean Raimundo Sandoval, a Riverhead Rotary Club exchange student who arrived in town last month.

Raimundo, an 11th grader, hails from the central Chile city of Rancagua, which is located about an hour south of the country's capital city, Santiago.

He has visited the U.S. in the past and wanted to spend a school year here, "because I really like this place," Raimundo said. English is his second language.

"I chose [Riverhead] because when I searched Riverhead I liked it because it reminded me a lot of my place," Raimundo said. Rancagua is considerably bigger, with a population of more than 232,000. It is surrounded by Chile's vineyard region. 

Raimundo, the youngest of three sons back home, is staying with host family Susan Duff and her son, 'Aleki Lui, a Riverhead High School senior.

Raimundo loves soccer and looks forward to playing with the Blue Waves. He enjoys guitar, golf and video games, he said. He is looking forward to exploring Riverhead and the surrounding region and visiting NYC.

"Please join the Rotary Club of Riverhead in giving Raimundo a very warm welcome," said Riverhead Rotary president Tom Lennon.

Rotary International's Youth Exchange program provides international travel opportunities for more than 8,000 students every year. Riverhead Rotary has had an active youth exchange program for decades, hosting one or more students each year and sponsoring local students who travel to study abroad in all corners of the world. 

Pictured: Riverhead Rotary exchange student Raimundo Sandoval with his host family, Susan Duff and her son 'Aleki Lui. (Photo: Denise Civiletti)