Shaler Area High School students took top awards in the 22nd annual High School Japanese Speech Contest held at the University of Pittsburgh.

The Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania and the University of Pittsburgh’s Asian Studies Center hosts the Japanese Speech Contest at Pitt’s Oakland Campus each year for Japanese learners of all levels. This year, 52 students from schools throughout western Pennsylvania participated in the competition that includes four speech levels and a poster contest. 

In the Advanced Plus level, senior Kylie Dougherty placed 2nd and senior Marcus Katich placed 3rd. In the Advanced level, junior Nathan Hayward earned 1st place and junior Evan Baldwin earned 3rd place. In the Intermediate level, Jenna Facer, a sophomore, placed 3rd, and in the Beginner level, freshman Mai Swendsen placed 3rd. 

Students are required to memorize a speech on the chosen topic for the speech contest or make a trifold poster for poster session. The Shaler Area students who participated in the competition wrote and memorized a speech in Japanese about food in Japan at the Intermediate to Advanced Plus level, and a self-introduction at the Beginner level. 

This year, the participating schools included Pittsburgh Milliones University Preparatory High School, Norwin High School, Pittsburgh Allderdice High School, Shaler Area High School, and Upper St. Clair High School.