Consulate-General of Japan in Houston

On Thursday, June 5, 2008, a reception was held at Consul General Osawa’s official residence honoring the Texas and Oklahoma teachers selected to participate in the 2008 Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program (JFMF).Attendees included eight of this year’s nineteen JFMF teachers and administrators, as well as representatives of the Consulate–General of Japan at Houston, the Institute of International Education (IIE), the Japan-America Society of Houston (JASH), the Japan Fulbright Memorial Foundation Alumni Association (JFMFAA), and the Japanese Teachers’ Association of Texas (JTAT).Deputy Consul General Mitsuru Murase opened the evening by congratulating the honorees and offering observations on the impact of international educational exchange.Mr. Timothy C. Jones, Director of the JFMFAA, followed with his own remarks and a toast of thanks on behalf of JFMF teachers, past and present.Next, Mr. Jones and JASH Executive Director Carl Rosa gave detailed and entertaining presentations to help the new JFMF participants prepare for their journey.After the speeches and presentations, guests enjoyed refreshments and conversation well into the evening.

The 2008 JFMF Teacher Program participants from Texas and Oklahoma are:

・ Mr. John Beard - Woodrow Wilson High School, Dallas ISD
・ Ms. Kathryn Brothers - Richard Lagow Elementary, Dallas ISD
・ Ms. Candy Core- Eisenhower Ninth Grade School, Aldine ISD
・ Ms. Diana D’Emeraude - River Place Elementary, Leander ISD
・ Ms. Ellen Dueker - Education Service Center, Tulsa Public Schools ISD # 1
・ Ms. Elizabeth Eastman - River Oaks Elementary School, Houston ISD
・ Mr. Kevin Garcia- Porter High School, Brownsville ISD
・ Ms. Jean King - DeZavala Elementary, Houston ISD
・ Mr. David Lennington - League City Intermediate School, Clear Creek ISD
・ Ms. Mary Longoria - St. George Catholic School, Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth
・ Ms. Amy Merk - Wimbish Elementary, Arlington ISD
・ Ms. Tara Muchmore - Sky Ranch Elementary, Moore Public Schools
・ Ms. Grace Ovekan - Cunningham Elementary School, Houston ISD
・ Ms. Lisa Ricciardelli - Austin Elementary School, Coppell ISD
・ Mr. David Stacey - Beggs Middle School, Beggs School District
・ Mr. Michael Thomas - Schmalz Elementary, Katy ISD
・ Ms. Dorothy VanDeCarr - Pecan Springs Elementary School,Austin ISD
・ Ms. Nancy Walkup - W. S. Ryan Elementary School, Denton ISD
・ Ms. Naomi Wang - James E Taylor High School, Katy ISD

Now in its twelfth year, the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund was established by the Japanese government to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Fulbright Program (created in 1946 to foster the exchange of university students, faculty and researchers). The Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program provides American primary and secondary school teachers and administrators with fully-funded three week study tours of Japan in the spring (June) or fall (October) of each year.

For more information on the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund, please visit:
http://www.fulbrightmemorialfund.jp/

For application information from the Institute of International Education, please visit:
http://www.iie.org/Website/WPreview.cfm?CWID=752&WID=194

Back to Index Page