This article is contributed by Akiko Taira, chair of Japanese department and a supervisor for Japanese National Honor Society (JNHS).
As it was shared previously in IPA news, senior Rachel Novak (’17) was selected as one of 25 exceptional students nationwide for The Reischauer Scholars Program (RSP) 2016 by the Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education (SPICE) at Stanford University earlier this year.
Rachel successfully completed the course and was recently awarded the Certificate of Completion from SPICE together with Continuing Studies Program (CSP) credit from Stanford University.
“It was a privilege to be chosen this past school year to take part in the Reischauer Scholars Program at Stanford. RSP connected me with people from around the country as well as in Japan,” explained Rachel.
“Although the program was challenging, I am beyond grateful for my time participating in RSP. I am proud to have been a part of the Reischauer Scholars Program class of 2016 and I will carry the friendships and knowledge learned with me for the rest of my life,” she shared.
Named in honor of former Ambassador to Japan Edwin O. Reischauer, the RSP annually selects 25 exceptional high school students from throughout the US to engage in an intensive study of Japan through an online course. This year, selected students participated in the course about Japan from February to June 2016.
The intensive, online program provides opportunities for students to engage with ambassadors, top scholars, and diplomats through lectures and live discussions in virtual classroom sessions. Among the distinguished lecturers participating this year were Ambassador Kenichiro Sasae, Japanese Ambassador to the US; Ambassador Caroline Kennedy, US Ambassador to Japan; and Dr. Sadako Ogata, former UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
Through the course discussions, Rachel and her classmates were introduced to American and Japanese perspectives on many historical and contemporary issues, and were challenged to engage in higher-order thinking skills. The level of instruction provided by top scholars and diplomats is unparalleled in other distance learning courses for high school students, making this a unique opportunity for participants.
ISLAND PACIFIC ACADEMY students like Rachel, who seek out such enriching opportunities to expand their educational experience, demonstrate what “going forward with confidence” means.
http://spice.fsi.stanford.edu/fellowships/reischauer_scholars_program
