One-hundred twenty one students arrived in Salem Tuesday, February 5.  The Class of 2013 are here for the 11-month American Studies Program (ASP) at Willamette University.  The students looked excited to finally arrive and began their orientation to campus. There was an official welcome by the Willamette community at Goudy Commons at Tuesday's dinner. Students were welcomed with speeches by Willamette President Steve Thorsett, Dean Marlene Moore, and Dean David Douglass.  There were also musical performances by campus a capella groups Headband and UpTop.

Click here for a photo gallery of the arrival day activities.

One hundred and thirty students were honored during the annual closing ceremony on Friday, December 14, 2012.  There was a certificate ceremony, as well as presenting some awards, in Hudson Hall on the Willamette University campus.  Afterwards, there was a 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.

This class of students arrived for the American Studies Program at Willamette University in February, 2012. This program offers students the opportunity to take classes at TIUA and WIllamette University, as well as participating in various activities throughout the eleven months, such as volunteering with local charities, getting to know community members through the Tomodachi "friendship" Program, and interacting with Willamette University students as roommates and friends.

The theme of this year's closing festivities was "Step Up - The World is Calling You."  Anna Fukusawa, 2012 ASP student, won the theme contest in a vote by TIUA staff and faculty.

Attending the ceremony from Tokyo International University in Kawagoe, Japan, were President Tsugio Tajiri, Vice President Katsuya Endo, and Director Shunsuke Sekiguchi.  Other speakers included Consul General Hirofumi Murabayashi, from the Japanese Consulate in Portland, as well as President Stephen Thorsett and Dean David Douglass from Willamette University.  ASWU President Elizabeth Calixtro and Representative Shotaro Kumano also spoke on behalf of the students.  Salem community members who participated in the Tomodachi Program were also invited.

To see photos from the Closing Ceremony, click here.

To see photos from the Reception, click here.

The annual TIUA Flea Market was held Saturday, December 8, at the Sparks Center on the Willamette University campus.  Students have nearly completed the American Studies Program at TIUA and Willamette and will be returning home to Japan, either this Saturday or after some traveling.  They will resume their studies at Tokyo International University in Kawagoe in April, 2013.

They accumulate many items during their eleven months in Salem and didn't wish to take everything back to Japan, so the flea market was created to help them get rid of some of it.  It's a great place to pick up some great deals on clothes, shoes, bedding, dvds, etc.  What didn't sell at the market will mostly be donated to local charities.