A pair of Murray State University students had the opportunity to study abroad in Japan this summer with the Kentucky Institute for International Studies (KIIS) Japan Program, thanks to a scholarship generously funded by Sekisui Specialty Chemicals.
Now in its eighth year, the Sekisui Scholarship has provided $40,000 to fund Murray State Education Abroad opportunities for 32 students, with many of them being Japanese majors or minors.
This year’s recipients were James West, a Japanese major and biology minor from Memphis, Tennessee, and Ray Friedland, a teaching English to speakers of other languages major (TESOL) and Japanese minor from Louisville. Each student documented their experiences studying abroad in Japan.
Friedland, who visited Japan for the second time, spent the trip participating in several activities, including connecting with her host family, visiting local landmarks, temples and shrines and communicating with students at the nearby Tenri University, as well as teaching a lesson to a second-grade class at Tenri Elementary School. She said much of her learning was culture-based, and connecting with locals helped her demonstrate her existing knowledge while building on it, all while helping her to develop a better understanding of Japanese culture.
“Without the financial support of Sekisui, it would have been incredibly difficult — if not downright impossible — for me to return to Japan and thereby gain all of these wonderful experiences that have benefited me not only academically and in reference to future job opportunities, but have contributed to my happiness and confidence in my language proficiency,” Friedland said. “I feel more prepared than ever before to take on the world and hopefully nurture the students of today into the global community of tomorrow. I would like to thank Sekisui deeply from the bottom of my heart for their support and encouragement of individuals wishing to make connections and establish experiences.”
West said he particularly enjoyed visiting the island of Miyajima, where he joined fellow KIIS participants in climbing to the peak of Mt. Misen.
He said the trip helped him gain confidence in his own understanding of the Japanese language. By immersing himself in Japanese culture and speaking little English during his stay, he had an opportunity to develop his linguistic skills and better understand the country in person.
“I want to give my genuine thanks to everyone at Sekisui that enabled myself and Ray to receive the assistance we did to go on the KIIS program,” West said. “KIIS was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I was only able to participate in because of the kindness and generosity of Sekisui, and I will always appreciate every bit of the assistance that I was given.”
This article was reposted from the Murray Ledger
Sekisui Principles
At SEKISUI, we are committed to the 3S Principles grounded in the corporate philosophy that seeps through every part of SEKISUI.
- Service: At SEKISUI, we serve our stakeholders by creating social, environmental and economic value through responsible business practices.
- Speed: At SEKISUI, we accelerate innovation by eagerly taking on new challenges, adapting to change and staying ahead of the times.
- Superiority: Contribute to society by helping to solve socialissues with our superior technologies and quality.
As part of the principles of Sekisui Specialty Chemicals and Sekisui Group is to contribute to local communities and the environment, that is why we provide opportunities for young people to fully develop their potential through different types of scholarships. To learn more about Sekisui’s most recent STEM activities, community-focused events, and the scholarships the company has been providing, please go to https://www.sekisui-sc.com/news/.
Sekisui Specialty Chemicals is a subsidiary of Sekisui Chemical Group, a multibillion dollar, global company that delivers a wide range of products and services to enrich people’s lives. The company is comprised of core businesses and technologies in housing, social infrastructure, and chemical solutions. Sekisui Chemical’s corporate philosophy and principles are deeply rooted in Japanese tradition, and the company has brought many innovations to Japan over the past 70 years. Sekisui is also historically the 1st Japanese manufacturer to begin operations in North America in 1963. Since then, the company has created a steady exchange of technology and culture between North America and Japan.
Sekisui Specialty Chemicals’ is the manufacturer of Selvol, a line of high performance polyvinyl alcohol polymers and copolymers used in paper, adhesive, packaging, construction, personal care, and many other specialty formulations. One of company’s 3 manufacturing plants is located in Calvert City, Kentucky, not far from the Murray State University campus. To find out more about Sekisui Specialty Chemical’s innovations or initiatives, please visit www.seksiui-sc.com.