An 11th Scotland High student has been selected for the 18th annual Laurinburg-Oban Exchange program for the summer of 2010.

According to advisor Beacham McDougald, exchange officials in Scotland asked that one additional American student be added to this year's program.

"Selections of students in our sister city of Oban, Scotland were deadlocked on 11 students, and we were asked to increase our selections to match," McDougald said.

Star Jones, a rising junior at Scotland High School, was the first alternate selected during the interview process. In the spirit of the holidays, according to McDougald, Jones elected to pass on her selection and let the second alternate, rising senior Pang Xiong, take her place.

"Pang would not have another chance to participate in the exchange, as she will graduate in 2011," McDougald said. "It was very heartwarming that Star chose to let Pang have this opportunity."

Xiong was "extremely happy" to learn she had been selected.

"I really appreciate what Star did, a lot," Xiong said. "I don't know how many times I have thanked her."

Xiong and Jones only knew each other in passing, Jones said, but the idea of giving Xiong her seat was an easy decision.

"After Mr. McDougald called to tell me I was selected to go, I had it in my head to give her my spot," Jones said. "I talked it over with my parents and called him the next day with the news."

Xiong, who grew up in Minneapolis, Minn. before moving with her family to Laurinburg four years ago, is looking forward to visiting Oban.

"I would like to experience something outside of American culture," Xiong said. "This past summer a friend of mine, Polly Smith, was a part of the exchange program and told me what an amazing place Scotland was. I am most definitely excited to be a part of this."

Scotland County students are scheduled to visit Oban, Scotland from June 10 through June 24, 2010. Their counterparts from Oban will visit Scotland County in October.