Explorers honor Thai exchange student

Grand Island Dispatch, June 23, 2006

Phichai “Max” Opaskiatikul was honored last Thursday night by the Erie County Sheriff’s Department Law Enforcement Explorer’s, Grand Island Post 505. Opaskiatikul is the Rotary Club exhange student and student ambassador from Thailand who has been attending Grand Island High School since last September. While on Grand Island, he has been staying with his host family, Mr. and Mrs. Steve Kaplan.

Opaskiatikul became a member of the Explorers soon after he began attending GIHS. Dep. William Harmon said the young man has participated in almost every activity, and always with a smile on his face and a desire to be his best. He has participated in the Gun Safety Program, qualified in rifle and pistol shooting, attended police training courses in handcuffing and other police procedures and several of the Child Fingerprinting Programs.

“Max was always one of the first to volunteer his time and was dependable, responsible and always outgoing,” Harmon said. “He has been an asset to our Post.”

In recognition of his last meeting before returning to Thailand, the Explorer Post honored him with a picnic and presented him with several items that reflect his year with Post 505.

Harmon presented him with a certificate of course completion. Lt. Russ Scanio, coordinator of the Post, presented him with honorary captain’s bars and a certificate. Opaskiatikul also received department memorabilia in the form of pins and a shirt from Dep. Matt Baudo.

Prior to his arrival in the states, Opaskiatikul spent the past five years attending Westminster private school in Adelaide, Australia. He has two sisters and two brothers and is the youngest of the five. At age 13, he began working in his father’s motorized tricycle manufacturing business in Thailand. He is a sports enthusiast who loves baseball and American food.

“The American food is unbelievable,” Opaskiatikul said. “I don’t know how I will ever eat Thai food again.

With a philosophy beyond his years, Opaskiatikul said he has a thirst for knowledge and hopes to attend an American university. He said he realizes the role politics, the economy, the culture and the people have on a business. He hopes to get a degree in business and return to the family manufacturing concern. He has already thought of a new product currently being tested that he wishes to call the “Shark.”