Auf Wiedersehen, Antioch!

Three years of diligent German study has given one Antioch student a tolle gelegenheit.

Ross Houslander, 16, will leave in June for a three-and-a-half week, all-expenses paid summer study trip to Germany.

The tolle gelegenheit, or amazing opportunity, is possible because of Ross' score on the National German Exam.

"I knew about the award but just took the exam so I could see how I compare to other students," Ross said. "I guess I did pretty good."

Ross was one of about 26,000 students who competed for the study trip by participating in a nationwide German testing program administered by the American Association of Teachers of German.

Ross scored in the 98th percentile on the exam, taken Jan. 15, making him eligible for the trip, which is funded by the German government.

At Antioch Community High School, 53 students took the National German Exam, with four scoring above the 90th percentile.

Ross is the only student from Antioch going to Germany, however, and will join 43 other students selected nationwide.

"I'm a little nervous because I've never been on an airplane by myself," Ross said. "But I've done a lot of camps and been away from my parents before. And people say I have good people skills."

Ross also wrote two essays in German and was interviewed by five high school and college German teachers.

Ross' German teacher, Danielle Katz, lived in Germany for three years while growing up.

Her advice to Ross: Be gracious and grateful to the people he meets in Germany.

"It's all stuff he already knows," Katz said. "He is a very responsible student, and we are all so proud of him."

During the trip, Ross will live with a German family and study in German schools.

The exact city where Ross will stay still hasn't been decided, although is mother, Doris Houslander, said she thinks it will be in or near Nuremberg.

"We believe he'll be in good hands," she said. "I think he'll have a great time. I hope he brings home lots of wonderful memories."

Ross said one thing he wants to do while there is find out how the other half lives.

"I would love to hang out with as many German teens as possible and see what they do for fun," he said.