Riverwood Students Receive Scholarships to Study in Japan

From Riverwood International Charter School: Congratulations to Elise Flanagan (11th grade, Japanese 4 Honors) for winning a Rotary Youth Exchange Scholarship. The over $24,000 award will enable Flanagan to study at a Japanese high school for one year. Flanagan is one of two students selected to go to Japan where she will live with host families during her stay. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Sandy Springs, Flanagan will have a connection to a host Rotary Club in Japan, will hone her language skills, discover another culture, and become a global citizen.

Flanagan began studying Japanese in 6th grade and is an officer of Riverwood’s Japanese Honor Society. Said Flanagan, “The application process is fairly lengthy and fairly competitive, and includes an essay letter from students and parents, secondary school report and reference, transcript, and an in-person interview, among other components.” In class with three native speakers this year, she added “they have been very helpful to me in learning Japanese.” Flanagan, currently a Junior, will be graduating from high school this summer.

She is taking concurrent online classes during this school year and will take two additional online classes once the regular school year finishes. Flanagan departs in August 2017 to begin her year in Japan.

The Youth Exchange Program is new to Georgia this year and is part of the Florida Rotary Youth Exchange Program. The Rotary is sending almost 85 students to study abroad in over 35 countries. Exchanges for students 15 to 19 years old are sponsored by Rotary clubs in more than 100 countries.

Two other Riverwood students also received funding to study abroad: Celine Al-Noubani and Jordan Allen. The Jackson Bailey Scholarship Program awarded $2,000 to Al-Noubani (10th grade, Japanese 3H), and $750 to Allen (9th grade, Japanese 1), for a summer immersion in Japan. Allen stated, “I found out that a lot of American composers created some of the best music of their careers after spending time in Japan. These musicians and composers used the influences of Japanese culture while in the country to create something special. I believe that the NP:J experience will give me the same opportunity.”

The Jackson Bailey Scholarship Program provides funds to students through The Laurasian Institution. The Laurasian Institution administers the New Perspectives: Japan (NP:J) study tour project for middle and high school students and teachers interested in studying Japan.

NP:J is a three-phase program which is centered around a two-week study tour to Japan. The teacher and students approach the program as a group, sharing insights and reflections to enhance the overall experience. The program begins several weeks before departure working with one of six curricular themes that the school group chooses. The group then travels to Japan, where participants visit a Japanese school, live with a Japanese host family, visit historical sites in Tokyo and Kyoto--all allowing students the opportunity to practice their Japanese on a daily basis. Once returning to the US, each school group works together to help each participant assess and articulate her or his experience. Students will travel in June and July.

Image via Patch