Opportunities: Korea, Japan-Stanford Apply NOW

The Korea Society welcomes applications from prospective Youth Ambassadors for the 2012-2013 Project Bridge Program. This year's program marks the 20th anniversary of Project Bridge, which was created in response to the 1992 Los Angeles riots. The Korea Society, in conjunction with the Los Angeles-based Pacific Century Institute, coordinates a year-long intercultural outreach program for high-school juniors and seniors. The program selects 16 student Youth Ambassadors and two adult group leaders from New York City and Los Angeles to participate in a series of bi-weekly meetings, a weekend retreat, and a fully subsidized ten-day study tour to Korea. The program aims to cultivate future community leaders and introduce them to U.S.- Korea relations with an emphasis on cultural and racial sensitivity and a firm understanding of Korea. High-school junior or senior students attending New York City and Los Angeles public schools are eligible to apply for this program. Applications must be postmarked by October 12, 2012.
Once selected, participants meet regularly for educational workshops which focus on topics such as Korean history, language, modern society, and U.S.-Korea relations, as well as the history of race relations in the U.S. Participants gain insights into Korea, acquire leadership skills, and develop intercultural understanding. The highlight of Project Bridge is a fully subsidized ten-day study tour of Korea, which begins in late March during Spring Recess, and includes visits to numerous historical sites as well as a homestay with Korean high-school students.

Program Schedule:

October 12, 2012      Application Postmark Deadline
November 19, 2012      Announcement of Finalists

Applications are now available.  Please direct teachers and candidates to our page for all forms necessary:

http://www.pacificcenturyinst.org/programs_projectbridge.html

The Reischauer Scholars Program (RSP) is an online course for high school students sponsored by the Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education (SPICE) at Stanford University. Named in honor of former Ambassador to Japan Edwin O. Reischauer, the RSP annually selects 25–30 exceptional high school students from throughout the United States to engage in an intensive study of Japan. Selected students will participate in this online course on Japan from February to June 2013.

Currently entering its tenth year, the RSP presents a creative and innovative approach to teaching high school students about Japan and U.S–Japan relations. This online program provides American students with unique opportunities to interact with top scholars and diplomats, and introduces both American and Japanese perspectives on many historical and contemporary issues.

Students will be introduced to a broad overview of Japanese history, literature, religion, art, politics, economics, and contemporary society, with a special focus on the U.S.–Japan relationship. Ambassadors, top scholars, and experts throughout the United States and Japan provide online lectures and engage students in live discussion sessions. Students who successfully complete the course will earn Stanford Continuing Studies Program (CSP) credit and a Certificate of Completion from SPICE, Stanford University. The RSP will equip participants with a rare degree of expertise about Japan that may have a significant impact on their choice of study and future career. Students do not need to know the Japanese language to participate in this course, and there are no student fees.

The 2013 Reischauer Scholars Program is currently accepting applications from all current high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors (Classes of 2013, 2014, and 2015) in the United States.

For more information and to download the 2013 Reischauer Scholars Program application, please visit http://reischauerscholars.org. The application deadline for the 2013 RSP is October 10, 2012. All applications must be postmarked by this date.

Thank you for your interest in the RSP. Please contact Naomi Funahashi, RSP Manager and Instructor, at nfunahashi@stanford.edu with any questions.