Sidney Ripley, a rising junior at Gloucester High School, was one of 38 Virginia high school students who participated in the 25th annual Virginia Governor’s Japanese Academy at Randolph-Macon College this summer.

During the three-week session, the academy students experienced the Japanese language and culture through hands-on activities and real-life situations, making language acquisition more meaningful, practical and lasting.

The academy participants attended language and culture classes, such as art, music and Japanese customs, and visited Japanese culture-related sites. They also participated in community service work and afternoon activities such as cooking, soccer, volleyball, folk dancing and singing.

Ripley and her family hosted a Japanese exchange student for three summers prior to Ripley’s participation in the academy.
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