This year, Denison, Texas, and Cognac, France, celebrate 35 years as Sister Cities and honor a bond that dates back to the mid 1800s, when Denison resident and renowned horticulturist T. V. Munson worked with Cognac native Pierre Viala to develop disease resistant grapevines.
Cognac, known for its famous French wines, was perilously close to losing its entire wine industry until Munson developed disease resistant rootstock and almost single handedly saved the French wine industry. Because of the importance of Munson’s accomplishment, he was inducted into the French Legion of Honor. His life and work continue to be celebrated in Cognac.
Since 1992, Denison Sister Cities has worked to build on the volunteer movement established by another Denison resident, President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Designed to promote goodwill and international understanding, the program allows citizens from both cities to experience the culture and lifestyle of each country.
The Denison Sister Cities, Inc. Youth Ambassador Exchange Program allows Denison high school students and students from Cognac to experience the culture and lifestyle of each city for two weeks. Denison students submit applications annually and are selected to participate in the exchange, where they live with a host family in Cognac. Each selected family contributes to the student’s travel expenses and agrees to host a Cognac student in their home during the student’s visit to Denison.
Jordan Starr, Tourism Manager for the City of Denison, helps oversee the program. Starr loves being part of the exchange and shared some of the experiences enjoyed by visiting students.
“Typically, we have five to seven students. We took the Cognac students to Grayson College and toured their viticulture center and vineyard, where they showed us the rootstock that T. V. Munson created. We also visited the distillery and participated in a sensory test, which was a memorable experience.
“I think this program gives the students an opportunity to learn about another culture in such a unique way. By actually living with families in Cognac, I feel they are able to gain a greater appreciation of France, the lifestyle, and the people and how they live. It is really rewarding for the kids to have a greater insight than what a typical tourist would get. Our students get a cultural experience of life in Cognac that they would not normally get through traditional travel.”
Starr says the Cognac students also get to experience the activities local students enjoy during the summer, along with a few unique adventures.
“They got to meet our mayor, city leadership, and the fire and police departments. They visited the Vinita House, the Eisenhower Birthplace, and the Grayson College Viticulture Center. Our visitors from France really love American malls, so we took them to the Galleria, as well as the Dallas Aquarium, the Fort Worth Stockyards, and even a Texas Rangers baseball game.
“They did typical teen things, like hang out at the pool and have a lake day at Lake Texoma.”
The Youth Ambassador Exchange Program offers students more than a trip abroad. By living with host families and experiencing everyday life in another culture, participants develop friendships, broaden their perspectives, and gain a deeper understanding of the world beyond their own communities.
For more information about the Sister Cities program, visit DenisonTX.gov