For almost two decades a cultural bridge has been in place between Oban, Scotland and Laurinburg.

The cycle begins again today when the 18th annual student exchange between Laurinburg and its sister city gets underway as a group of 11 students and two chaperones depart from Raleigh-Durham airport for Glasgow, Scotland.

They are scheduled to arrive in Scotland at 7 a.m., or at 2 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Friday.

The group this year includes the Hon. William C. McIlwain, III and wife Sherry as chaperones, and Scotland High School students Eleanor Sojka, Jessica McPhatter, Katherine Britt, Katie Shytle, Pang Xiong, Brittany Young, Caleb Wood, Will Purcell, Zach Fore, Kayla Pate, and Josh Altman.

Advisor Beacham McDougald reflected on the program he helped create in 1993.

"This year, for the first, time, most of the students participating in the exchange were not even born when the program first began," he said. "If you had told me that the program would still be in operation when Oban High School Teacher Tom Laurenson and I started the exchange, it would have been beyond my wildest dreams."

Among the activities the group will experience in Scotland will include an overnight visit to the Isle of Mull and Iona, where the first Christian mission was established in Scotland in 563. They will also take an overnight trip to Edinburgh, share American Southern culture in the primary schools, and participate in several scheduled group activities culminating on June 23 with a final night’s ceilidh, (pronounced “kay-lee”), a traditional Scottish gathering that features festive music and dancing.

One of the students making the trip this year is rising Scotland High School senior Pang Xiong, who was able to travel thanks to the generosity of fellow student Star Jones. Jones was originally selected for the trip, but after realizing Xiong would be ineligible next year after graduation, she gave up her seat to the older student. Jones is a rising junior.

"Pang would not have another chance to participate in the exchange, as she will graduate in 2011," McDougald said in an earlier interview. "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."

While in Scotland the group will reside with the host families of students who have been selected to come to Laurinburg on the second portion of the exchange, from Oct. 7 through Oct. 21, 2010. Those students are Jessica Bichard, Kenny Irwin, Anna Smith, Nicola Burgar, Amanda Noddings, Katherine Jackson, Kirsty Maclean, Aisling McGuire, Louisa Stage, Jennifer Mcphee, and Ross Jespersen.

The exchange is funded in part by scholarships given by the Laurinburg Rotary Club and the Jane McKeithan Purcell Memorial Scholarship, and by fund raising hot dog sales from the upcoming Scotland County Highland Games.

Applications for the 2011 Exchange will be available beginning in early October.