RISD
A student from Richardson ISD’s Berkner High School has become the first Texan to take a first-place win at the All-U.S.A. High School Japanese Language Speech Contest.
Judges awarded Blessing Anyiam, Berkner’s 2022 valedictorian, the top spot in the free speech division with an address titled “The Courage to Face Myself.”
Consulate-General of Japan in Houston together with the Japan-America Society of Houston hosted the spring 2022 contest that reportedly provides an opportunity for Japanese language learners to showcase their learning achievements and test their Japanese abilities.
“This contest provides high school students studying the Japanese language in the United States (whose native language is not Japanese) to make presentations in Japanese and to inspire others to improve their proficiency in Japanese,” organizers say. “It is also hoped that the contest will encourage students to further their understanding of Japan, its people and its culture.”
Anyiam will receive a scholarship and go on to represent the United States in the ‘Overseas Students’ Japanese Speech Award (JSA) Contest in Japan.
