DALLAS RUNNERS ARE SENDAI-BOUND

Runners Alison Semrau and Jerod Honrath and Dallas City Councilmember Pauline Medrano will represent Dallas at the 18^th Annual Sendai International Half Marathon on May 11 in Sendai, Japan.  The runners were selected by JASDFW and Dallas Protocol through an application and interview process.  Alison is an attorney at Winstead P.C., and Jerod is a police officer with the Dallas Police Department.  Both have lived in the Dallas area for nearly a decade and, by coincidence, grew up near each other in Wisconsin.  Dallas and Sendai have been International Friendship Cities since 1997.  This event promotes international friendship through sports.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Regular Individual/Family Members

Melissa Broadway

Kathie & Blake Milton

Yvonne Perkins

Aileen & Mike Speegle 

Student Member

Adam Stein

VOLUNTEER THANKS

Thanks to Rie Shichijo and Tomoko Takahashi for helping with our Awards Dinner sponsorship mailing.

Thanks to our 2008 Award Dinner Underwriting Committee, chaired by The Honorable John M. Stich: Don Casey, Curtis Harris, Noah Houghton, Gerry Kenney, Allen King, Kenzo Nakahashi, Diana Newton, Ed Oakley, David Schnetzer, Randy Sharp, Sam Shichijo

Thanks to our Auction Volunteer Callers, led by Lolis Dignan and Naoko Stromberg: Brian Allen, Ed Ball, Cynthia Brink, Connie Crow, Kazumi Denney, Tami Ishii, Neha Kunte, Leslie Lolley, Mayumi McDonald, Michael Scott, Adam Stein.

JAPANESE SPEECH CONTEST WINNERS – DALLAS/FORT WORTH REGIONAL

Congratulations to the winners of the D/FW regional competition – the 10^th Japanese Speech Contest held by the Dallas Japanese Association on February 9 at Ted Polk Middle School.

Division 1: 

1^st Place – Abigail Diamond, Richardson High School

2^nd Place – Esther Hwang, Creekview High School

3^rd Place – Ivonee Garcia, Newman Smith High School

Division 2:

1^st Place – Jiwon Min, Creekview High School

2^nd Place – Young Kim, Creekview High School

3^rd Place – Clint Donelson, Pearce High School

Division 3:

1^st Place – Lindsey Witt, Newman Smith High School

2^nd Place – Angela Park, R. L. Turner High School

3^rd Place – Tommy Sealock, Pearce High School

Division 4:

1^st Place – Jai Walker, Richardson High School

2^nd Place – Kelsey Witt, Newman Smith High School

3^rd Place – Sarah Pritsker, Newman Smith High School

Division 5:

1^st Place – Robert Smith, Southern Methodist University

2^nd Place – Alyse Hashi, University of North Texas

3^rd Place – Brandon Hulme, Baylor University

Additional Prizes

Consulate General of Japan Award – Jai Walker, Richardson High School

Dallas Japanese Association Award – Robert Smith, DMU

Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth Award – Lindsey Witt, Newman Smith High School

JAPANESE SPEECH CONTEST WINNERS – STATE OF TEXAS

Congratulations to these winners of the statewide Japanese Language Speech Contest held in

Houston on February 23

Division 1:

1^st Place – Abigail Diamond, Richardson High School (Richardson)

2^nd Place – Esther Hwang, Creekview High School (Carrollton/Farmers Branch)

3^rd Place – NaNa Alli, Bellaire High School (Houston)

Division 2:

1^st Place – Jiwon Min, Creekview High School (Carrollton/Farmers Branch)

2^nd Place – Adrian McKintosh, The Woodlands High School (Houston)

3^rd Place – Young Kim, Creekview High School (Carrollton/Farmers Branch)

Division 3:

1^st Place – Angela Park, R. L. Turner High School (Carrollton/Farmers Branch)

2^nd Place – Lindsey Witt, Newman Smith High School (Carrollton/Farmers Branch)

3^rd Place – Alitha McFaralane -Bellaire High School (Houston)

Division 4:

1^st Place – Lindsey Eliff  - The Woodlands High School (Houston)

2^nd Place – Jai Walker, Richardson High School (Richardson)

3^rd Place – Kelsey Witt, Newman Smith High School

Division 5:

1^st Place – Tianhe Yang, Rice University (Houston)

2^nd Place – Esther Franklin, Houston

3^rd Place – Robert Smith, Southern Methodist University (Dallas)

Additional Prizes/Awards

Consul General's Award: Brandon Wensel (San Antonio)

Best Pronunciation, Division 1: HeeWon Jang (Houston)

Best Pronunciation, Division 2: Sarah Rodriguez (Houston)

Best Pronunciation, Division 3: Kristi Aventuri (Houston)

Best Pronunciation, Division 4: Adam Stockhausen (Houston)

Best Pronunciation, Division 5: Alyse Hashi (UNT)

Akira Ishikawa Memorial Award: Esther Franklin (Houston)