Ninety-two students were honored during the annual closing ceremony on Friday, December 16, 2011.  There was a certificate ceremony held in Hudson Hall on the Willamette University campus.  It will be followed by an reception party. The ceremony is the culmination of a year of intense study of English and American Studies courses taught by TIUA and Willamette University faculty members.

The theme of this year's closing festivities was "A Promising Future is Waiting for You."  Yoshie Kikuchi was the student who won the theme contest in a vote by TIUA staff and faculty.

Attending the ceremony from Tokyo International University in Kawagoe, Japan, was President Tsugio Tajiri, and Professor Katsuya Endo.  Other speakers included Consul General Takamichi Okabe, from the Japanese Consulate in Portland, as well as President Stephen Thorsett and Dean Marlene Moore from Willamette University.  Two ASWU Representatives also spoke -- Matthew Bateman and Stella Han.  Salem community members who participated in the Tomodachi Program were also in attendance.

To read President Thorsett's remarks, click here.

To see a photo gallery from the ceremony, click here.

To see a photo gallery from the reception, click here.

2011 marked our First Annual American Studies Program (ASP) Co-Curricular Honors and Awards in which our students were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the community.  The program included a performance by the ASP taiko drummers, a student-made slide show, and a special student presentation about the March 11 earthquake and tsunami and relief efforts.  The Honors and Awards also served as a venue where individual students, as well as student groups, received the President's Volunteer Service Award- a prestigious national honor recognizing sustained community service throughout the year.

Handing out the awards were President Tsugio Tajiri and Professor Katsuya Endo, who were visiting from Tokyo International University in Japan this week as part of the program's closing ceremonies.

Congratulations 2011 ASP students, for contributing nearly 6000 hours of service to our local, state, and national communities!

Click here to see the list of our award recipients.

More information on the President's Volunteer Service Awards:

http://www.presidentialserviceawards.gov/tg/pvsainfo/dspAboutAwards.cfm

To see the photo gallery from this event, click here

On Sunday, Dec. 11, five ASP students volunteered at the Portland Consulate General of Japan's 23rd Annual Origami Workshop held at the World Trade Center in downtown Portland.  The volunteers showed community members how to fold candy canes, paper wallets, and wreaths out of traditional Japanese origami paper.

A big thank you to students Mizuki, Yukari, Ai, Kaede, and Anna. This was the last "official" opportunity to volunteer during their time here in Salem as the American Studies Program ends this week.

Click here to see a photo gallery from the event.