On March 6, eleventh grader Allison Mesinere, was awarded the First Place Award (Intermediate Level) in the 2015 High School Japanese Speech Contest.

 

This contest was sponsored by The Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania, The Asian Studies Center, and University Center for International Studies of The University of Pittsburgh at the William Pitt Union, University of Pittsburgh Oakland Campus.

 

Students were required to write a speech on the theme of environmental resources in response to the question, “What I would do to save resources?” The scoring was based upon the students’ ability to express themselves in an original speech, written by themselves, and in Japanese using language and vocabulary that is appropriate for their level of learning.

 

With over 90 students participating, nine high schools in the tri-state region competed in the event. Rules and results of the contest are posted at http://www.us-japan.org/jasp/jbowl.htm.

 

Allison was prepared and sponsored by Japanese teacher Mrs. Junko Kapples.