By By Arthur McLean
A girl from the Atmore area will become one of America's newest ambassadors this summer.
Atmore's Caroline Prater, will be travelling to Great Britain, meeting a Member of Parliament, and representing our nation abroad. She won't be negotiating any treaties, but she's only 10 years old.
Prater was selected to be a member of the People to People program, a cultural exchange and ambassadorial program established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956.
Prater, is in the 5th grade at Bratt Elementary, and is already a top student who is also very active outside the classroom. She was selected to become part of the program in much the same way as top universities recruit the brightest high school students.
She receives top marks in the classroom and works outside of school helping at Lee Veterinary Clinic, observing and helping Hank and Lacy Lee.
"I'm looking forward to it," Prater said. "I want to see the palace and crown jewels and maybe meeting the Queen and Prince William." Prater said it would be okay to meet Prince Harry as well.
Prater will spend 14 days visiting England and France along with 40 other 5th and 6th-grade students who will be part of the program. She begins taking classes to orient her and her travel companions to the history and culture of the places they will visit.
"I expect I'll get some knowledge from the trip. I love meeting new people," Prater said. "I think it will also be a strange experience because I'll be having fun and missing my mom at the same time."
Prater will be travelling with Alabama students. To date, she has received a letter from Gov. Bob Riley congratulating her and a letter from a member of British parliament about the visit they will have this summer.
Prater said she hopes to study equine medicine in college. She'll have a leg up on that journey because her experience in People to People will give her high school credit.
Her parents are Jonice Casey and Donald Prater.