They both graduated from Lincoln High School. They both have the University of Oregon as their alma mater.
And both Nigel and Mason Vanderford are past Rotary International long-term youth exchange participants: Nigel, to Denmark, in 2002-03; Mason, to Taiwan, in 2005-06.
The Vanderford Brothers visited Pearl Rotary Aug. 9. They were introduced by Rotarian Jerry Baysinger who has past club and District 5100 leadership experience with youth exchange.
“I want to thank you guys so much for all your help,” said Mason. “You really helped find my niche.”
And that career choice: studying the Mandarin language beginning this fall in Taipei, Taiwan.
For Nigel, he returns soon to Wake Forest University for his second year of law school. His specialty: European Union law.
The brothers were sponsored by our Rotary Club Nigel by the Portland Industrial Rotary Club, Mason by Portland Pearl. Their individualized buttons have places in our storage box and were found as they entered the EcoTrust conference room.
Joked Nigel: “I appear to be the only one still wearing a Portland Industrial badge.”
Pictured (from left): President Phil Rothrock, Mason Vanderford, Nigel Vanderford, Rotarian Jerry Baysinger.