March 08, 2024 -- Students from Fort Hayes Arts and Academic High School placed first in Level 2 of the Ohio Japan Bowl, which was held at Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center in late February, according to Japanese teacher Tracy Imamura.
Three Fort Hayes teams competed in the Ohio Japan Bowl, a high-level, high-intensity competition that tests knowledge of Japanese language, culture, and history. The level 3 team-Ja’Myah Dukes, Kyros Erwood and Eve Greenwood as well as both level 2 teams consisting of -Brianna Maddrey, Yasmine Ahmed Brooklyn Beckett, Erick Rausch, and Karla Rendon-Sanchez have been preparing since November for the competition.
The Japan-America Society of Central Ohio (JASCO) created the Ohio Japan Bowl to introduce an element of entertainment to the study of Japan and the Japanese language. The format is modeled on popular quiz television shows in which students collaborate as teams of two or three. Only non-native Japanese speakers are eligible to participate.
Fort Hayes has participated in the contest since its inception. The Fort Hayes Japanese Level 2 team had the highest level 2 score this year with high school students Brooklyn Beckett, Erik Rausch, and Karla Rendon-Sanchez also coming in second place overall just barely missing the chance to go to Washington DC to compete in the National Bowl. The level 3 team from Dublin Scioto will represent Ohio this April in the National Bowl competition.
