News/Events
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U.S. AMBASSADOR PATRICIA A. BUTENIS VISITS PINELAND LEARNING CENTER VINELAND, NJ (April 22, 2010) – Pineland Learning Center welcomed Patricia A. Butenis, U.S. Ambassador to Maldives and Sri Lanka, to their high school on April 15th. Butenis spoke to PLC students about her role as U.S. Ambassador and her experiences with foreign cultures. “We were extremely pleased that Ambassador Butenis accepted our invitation to speak to our students about her position and her extensive travels,” said Fred Eccleston, Director of Pineland Learning Center. “Her presentation offered our students a fresh perspective on the world and encouraged them to embrace and appreciate foreign cultures.” In her speech, Ambassador Butenis addressed the importance of experiencing foreign cultures and the benefits of living abroad. She cited many examples from her service with the U.S. Government as an Ambassador and a Deputy Chief of Mission. After the presentation, Ambassador Butenis accepted several questions from students about her personal experiences with culture shock and the various benefits and drawbacks of living in foreign countries. Butenis was nominated by President Barack Obama as the U.S. Ambassador to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Maldives in May 2009. She was confirmed by the Senate in August 2009. A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, rank of Minister-Counselor, Butenis has previously served as U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh and Deputy Chief of Mission at U.S. Embassies in Baghdad and Islamabad. <<back |
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