RUMFORD — Students studying Spanish at three local high schools are raising money for a two-week trip to Spain this summer.

Mountain Valley High School sophomore Katie Billings is baking whoopie pies and cookies and selling them at local businesses, including Adley Auto Sales and Dan’s Automotive Repair, both in Rumford. Fellow sophomore Cam Welch, along with students from Telstar High School in Bethel and Dirigo High School in Dixfield, are selling raffle tickets and planning bottle drives. Other fundraisers are planned as well.

 Billings and Welch said they are looking forward to seeing some of the sites they have studied in school, as well as speaking the language they have been learning for the past two years. They and three others from their school, and several from the other two high schools, will fly to Spain with teachers Heidi Broomhall, Victoria Ojeda, Merrie Lee Ojeda.

The trip starts in Spain and goes to southern France and Italy. The cost for each student is $3,420.

Billings said she is particularly looking forward to seeing the palace in Madrid and the Roman Coliseum.

“We learned about it last year in history. It is so big and it is still standing,” she said.

Welch said, “I’m going out of my comfort zone. I want to practice Spanish, and live it rather than just reading about it.”

  The trip was also open to Buckfield High School students.

Anyone who wants to help with the fundraising may call Mountain Valley High School at 364-4547.

[email protected]

Sophomores Katie Billings and Cam Welch of Mountain Valley High School show a map of Spain, where they and eight other students from Rumford, Dixfield and Bethel high schools will visit in July.