Currently entering its eleventh year, the program runs from February to June of every year and provides students with a broad overview of Japanese history, literature, religion, art, politics, economics and contemporary society with a special focus on the U.S. and Japan relationship.
Ambassadors, top scholars and experts throughout the United States and Japan provide on-line lectures and engage scholars in live discussion sessions. Students are required to complete weekly readings and assignments and to participate in discussions forums. Final coursework culminates in an independent research project. Final research projects are printed and bound as a journal of yearly scholar recipients. Students are also required to lead two presentations on Japan in their home-school or home community.
Students who complete their five-month internship will receive a Stanford University continuing studies credit and a certificate of completion from the program.
Manrique, who has lived most of his life on both the Hopi and Navajo reservations with his mother, also lived in Alaska for a few years, which allowed him a cross-cultural living and educational experience that has added to his interest in other countries and cultures.
Linda Miller, a longtime history teacher at Tuba City High, said, "— Isaac is an excellent example of Tuba City high academic preparedness. Isaac is in the National Honor Society, he's in ROTC, he wrote and directed a French revolution play last year, he is very disciplined and the school district is fully behind his continued academic career —"
Manrique, who took the PSAT last October, was recognized as one of fourteen 2013 National Hispanic Recognized Program Scholars and was also commended in the 2013-14 National Merit Scholarship Competition.
Manrique credits his parents, his three older sisters who are all in college and his English teacher, Linda Miller.
"I was able to attend a University of Arizona summer course and it was great — I had the chance to do my own thing, depend on my own self, learning how to structure my personal time to study and then also to have some fun," he said. " Everyone at Tuba City High who knows me were so supportive and would always check on my progress to see if I needed help or information that would move me along in my career choice."
Manrique has applied to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and says he would like to also apply as an exchange student to Japan after graduation. He is the son of Kathleen O'Neill and Jose' Manrique.
NTU students donate 80 pounds of food to WIC
CROWNPOINT - On Dec. 5, the Navajo Technical University engineering club brought holiday cheer to the Navajo Nation Women, Infants, and Children Food and Nutrition Service after donating food they collected through a holiday food drive, according to a NTU news release.
The holiday food drive took place on NTU's Crownpoint campus throughout the month of November, receiving donations from students, staff, and community members, as well as a large donation on behalf of Smith's Foods. In total the drive was able to donate about 80 pounds of food.
"Our engineering club food drive was so successful that I am overwhelmed with gratitude," said the engineering club's faculty advisor, Harry S. Whiting II. "I would like to particularly thank the pre vet club who helped pick up food for us, and the faculty, staff, and students who gave so much to help others."
The WIC Food and Nutrition Service program provides supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant and postpartum women, and to infants and children up to the age of five who are found to be at nutritional risk.
Students vie for national recognition in engineering contest
ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico middle school students will display their talents of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at the annual Future City Competition Regional Finals on Jan. 25 at the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History in Albuquerque.
This year's theme is, "Tomorrow's Transit: Design a Way to Move People in and Around Your City."
Approximately 25 teams, comprised of sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students from all over New Mexico, have been tasked with creating transportation solutions that are quick, safe, reliable and sustainable, whether it is by air, foot, car, bike or public transit.
Led by an educator and engineer mentor, students learn the basics of city planning and management as they design a virtual city using SimCity software. Via the research essay, the students delve deeper into a citywide issue. This year's question asks them to review the transportation options and needs of their own city, create viable ideas that consider safety, accessibility, intermodality and sustainability in an effort to reimagine a better and more efficient city. From there, each team builds a physical model of their city using recycled materials costing no more than $100.
More than 40,000 middle school student from 1,350 schools in 37 regions nationally will be competing in their local regional finals. First-place winners from each qualifying regional competition receive a trip to the Future City Competition National Finals in Washington, D.C., February 15-18 during Engineers Week. The national grand prize is $7,500 for the team's school or after-school's STEM program and a trip to U.S. Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama.
Information: www.futurecity.org.
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