Dear Colleagues,

Please circulate the following announcement to all high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who may be interested in participating in an online course offered through Stanford University. The RSP is ideal for students who not only want to learn about Japan and U.S.-Japan relations, but also wish to interact with diverse students from across the United States, experience a new challenge, and achieve a different global perspective.

The 2012 Reischauer Scholars Program is currently accepting applications, and we encourage all eligible students to apply. Please spread the word to all potential RSP applicants.

Sincerely,
Naomi Funahashi
Reischauer Scholars Program Coordinator and Instructor
Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education (SPICE),
Stanford University

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The Reischauer Scholars Program (RSP) is an online course for high school students sponsored by the Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education (SPICE) at Stanford University. Named in honor of former Ambassador to Japan Edwin O. Reischauer, the RSP annually selects 25–30 exceptional high school students from throughout the United States to engage in an intensive study of Japan. Selected students will participate in this online course on Japan from February to June 2012.

Currently entering its ninth year, the RSP 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.–Japan relationship. Ambassadors, top scholars, and experts throughout the United States and Japan provide online lectures and engage students in live discussion sessions. Students who successfully complete the course will earn Stanford Continuing Studies Program (CSP) credit and a Certificate of Completion from SPICE, Stanford University. The RSP will equip participants with a rare degree of expertise about Japan that may have a significant impact on their choice of study and future career. Students do not need to know the Japanese language to participate in this course, and there are no student fees.

The 2012 Reischauer Scholars Program is currently accepting applications from all current high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors (Classes of 2012, 2013, and 2014) in the United States. The RSP is opening up the application process to high school sophomores for the first time.

Please download the 2012 Reischauer Scholars Program application at http://reischauerscholars.org. The application deadline for the 2012 RSP is October 21, 2011. All applications must be postmarked by this date.

Thank you for your interest in the RSP. For more information, please e-mail Naomi Funahashi, Reischauer Scholars Program Coordinator, at nfunahashi@stanford.edu.