When Dusty Rogers arrived at the Foggy Bottom campus as a first-year student in GW’s Columbian College of Arts & Sciences (CCAS), she didn’t speak a word of Japanese.
Just three years later, Rogers was the Category II Gold Award winner at the annual J.LIVE Talk competition, a national Japanese speech contest that celebrates language learning through creativity, confidence and community.
A senior double-majoring in data science and Japanese, Rogers grew up in rural Kentucky but maintained a fascination with Japanese language and culture since she was a child. But with few resources available to her, she wasn’t able to take Japanese classes until arriving at Foggy Bottom.
Last year, she entered J.LIVE—Japanese Learning Inspired Vision and Engagement—for the first time and earned the Category I Silver Award. She also won the Kakehashi Award, whose prize was a 10-day trip to Japan—her first visit to the country.
This November, Rogers challenged herself by advancing to Category II with mentorship and support from the Japanese Program in the CCAS Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures.
In her winning presentation, Rogers spoke about her determination to overcome generational poverty and create better educational opportunities for herself and her nine younger siblings, while addressing common stereotypes about her Appalachian hometown.
“It’s OK to leave a place if it hinders your growth or happiness,” she said. “That doesn’t mean you’ve abandoned it or the people you left behind. Sometimes, the greatest impact must be made from a distance.”
Her message about the importance of education, combined with her deep love for her family and rural Kentucky roots, resonated with both the audience and the panel of judges, which included a representative from the Japanese Embassy as well as leaders from the public and private sectors who promote Japanese-U.S. relations.
Cultural Exchange
J.LIVE Talk was established to provide college and high school students with a platform to share their ideas, stories and passions in Japanese. This year, the individual category attracted 77 applicants from 11 states, representing both universities and high schools.
Participants are evaluated not only on their language proficiency but also on their vision, audience engagement and communication skills, including their performance during a Q&A session.
“Over the years, we have witnessed countless inspiring moments—students finding their voices, connecting across cultures and discovering how language can open doors to the world,” said Takae Tsujioka, teaching associate professor in the Japanese language at CCAS and executive director of J.LIVE Talk. “Our mission remains clear: to sustain enthusiasm for Japanese learning and to nurture future leaders who will bridge the United States and Japan through mutual understanding and shared vision.”
As the Category II Gold Award winner, Rogers received a scholarship to attend an eight-week intensive Japanese language program at Nanzan University in Nagoya, Japan, in summer 2026. The award includes round-trip airfare, a $3,000 stipend and a housing subsidy, made possible through the support of J.LIVE Talk’s sponsors, including the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission, All Nippon Airways, Toshiba International Foundation and host educational institutions.
As J.LIVE Talk celebrates its 10th anniversary, Rogers said her story embodies the competition’s mission—to inspire learners to gain new perspectives, deepen their understanding and appreciate who they are and how they engage with the world. “Majoring in Japanese was absolutely the best educational decision I could have made,” she said. “I am beyond grateful for every experience I’ve had along the way. I can’t wait to see where the future leads!”