In the Level 3 advanced competition, Lafayette senior Zane Barnett earned first-place honors in the statewide Japanese Speech Contest on April 18 in Norsworthy Auditorium. Meanwhile, in the Level 1 beginners’ division, senior Shannon Brady was runner-up and freshman Alex Toney placed third. The topics were self-introductions, individual dreams and goals, civil rights, and international issues.
About 30 students from Lafayette, Atherton and Eastern high schools in Louisville, the University of Kentucky, Centre College and Bellarmine University participated in the second annual event. Presented by the Japan/America Society of Kentucky with support from several sponsors, the competition is open to all Japanese language learners in the Kentucky region who are not heritage speakers. For more information, contact event organizer Mariko Barnes at Lafayette.