“It’s a story of love,” Bruce Hiligeist, president and CEO of the Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce, said. “We really love these people, and they love us, it’s amazing.”
The backstory
The relationship began in 1999 by a couple who noticed similarities between the two towns, Hillegeist said. That connection led to student exchanges, annual visits and festivals celebrating German heritage.
Since its start, Tomball has hosted 69 exchange students from Telgte, Mason said. Many students live with local families, attend Tomball ISD schools and participate in sports and band. Tomball sends students to Telgte in the summertime, Craig Bogner, board member of Sister Cities and a Tomball German Heritage Festival organizer, said.
“It’s amazing how deep the connections go,” Mason said. “Some of us have even traveled to Germany for their weddings.”
The Sister Cities organization also hosts major events like the Tomball German Heritage Festival and the Tomball German Christmas Market, which raise funds to support its programs. The funds are used to take care of the German exchange students, Bogner said.
The program has now expanded to college exchange students, Hillegeist said. The first college student spent time in Tomball this spring completing an internship.
“That's like a whole new avenue,” Hillegeist said. “What I would love to see is some kids of kids, and some things that are made [in Telgte] be sold in gift shops here.”
