Results from the Third Austin Regional Japanese Language Speech Contest 2012

The Japan-America Society of Greater Austin hosted and sponsored the third Austin Regional Japanese Speech Contest on February 11, 2012, in collaboration with the Annual Texas State Japanese Speech Contest in Houston, the statewide competition held on March 10 for students and adults at all levels in Japanese language and culture.

The speech contest will offer participants an opportunity to demonstrate their oral communication skills in Japanese while competing in a statewide competition and the winners of level IV (First and Second place) will compete at the National Japanese Speech Contest in Los Angeles. The contest will also promote students' awareness and understanding in culture, language and people of Japan.  

A total of thirty-two contestants presented poetry recitations and insightful, creative speeches in Austin. Listed below are the names of the top three winners in each of Divisions I through V. 

(Click on each photo to see more photos.)

Check out the performance video clips of Japanese dance, Taiko (1), and Taiko (2) during the intermission at the speech contest. 

Division I: Poetry Recitation - All middle and high school students at novice level:
Middle school:
1st:  Wey, Zennie , Canyon Vista MS
2nd: Shimizu, Maya, Kealing  MS
3rd:  Pratt, Megan, Kealing  MS
High School:
1st:  Barron, Jonathan, LASA
2nd: Pong, Ellen , LASA
3rd:  Foose, Aubry, McCallum HS

Division III: Free Speech - Middle and high school students at Intermediate level:
1. Park, Ji-Woon, LASA
2. Parker, Emma (Fush), LASA

Division IV: Free Speech - High school students at intermediate level:

1. Whitehurst, Will,  LASA

Division V: Free Speech - College/University students:
1.  Lee, Juliann, The University of Texas at Austin   
2.  Chan, Joshua, The University of Texas at Austin  
3.  Davis, Brian, The University of Texas at Austin

The following Austin winners will be enrolled in the Texas state contest in Houston on March 10, 2012 :

Division  I　　(regional: Divs I and II winners)
Beginning:   Wey, Zennie , Canyon Vista MS
Intermediate:  Aguilar, Gabriela,  Austin High  
 
Division II  (regional Div III)
1. Park, Ji-Woon, LASA
2. Parker, Emma (Fush), LASA
 
Division III (regional Div IV)
1. Whitehurst, Will,  LASA
 
Division IV  (Regional Div V)
1.  Lee, Juliann, The University of Texas at Austin  
2.  Chan, Joshua, The University of Texas at Austin

All contestants received the Japanese Certificate (Shojou) for participation in the speech contest. The top three winners received the Japan-America Society of Greater Austin (JASGA) Trophy.

JASGA would like to thank each of the contestants and all of the volunteers including judges, award presenters and performers for their participation.

We'd like to express our appreciation to the following eight Judges for the competition:

We were delighted that all of you could share your time with us and thank you so much for your warm encouragement of the contestants.

This Japanese speech contest was made possible with the support of Austin Independent School District (AISD), Asahi Imports, in partnership with the Consulate-General of Japan at Houston, the Japan-America Societies of Texas, and Japanese Teachers Association of Texas.