Live Oak Students Participate in Exchange Program in Japan
Class of ’03 Live Oak High School graduates Laura Marshall and Vanessa Hatakeyama were recently selected to participate in the 2007 Japan Exchange and Teaching program. The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET) seeks to enhance internationalization in Japan by promoting mutual understanding between Japan and other nations. Currently, there are over 44 countries participating. JET aims to accomplish this by enhancing foreign language skills in Japan and to foster international ties between its youth and JET participants.
 As the youth visiting Japan will be representing their respective country and cultures, the selection process is vigorous. In addition to the security, medical, and character screenings, an extensive evaluation of skills, education and applicant’s objectives are also part of this selection process. Marshall studied international relations at Brown University and Hatakeyama has a bachelor’s degree in social anthropology from UC-Berkeley. Both maintained “A” grade averages while at their respective institutions graduating in June of 2007. Both were active on their respective student campuses and local communities while attending college.
 Hatakeyama will be located outside of Osaka Japan in the Prefecture of Wakayama, City of Kinokawa while Marshall will be spending her year teaching English in the Kyushu/Okinawa Region in the Prefecture of Nagasaki, City of Shinkamioto.
