Every year, a handful of Berea seniors and graduates apply for the highly competitive Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program. Since 1987, nearly 60,000 college and university graduates from all around the world have taught their native languages in Japan through the JET Program, which is administered by the Japanese government in cooperation with 38 other national governments. Typically, only one applicant from Berea is successful each year.

This year is different, however. A record number applicants from Berea – six! – have received offers of English language teaching positions with JET: Zakiyya Ashe ’17, Samantha Blankenship ’17, Olivia Cundiff ’18, Anthony Gluck ’19, Fatima King ’14, and Dylan Usher ’18. If they accept these offers, they will join fellow Bereans Elaine Barkley ’18, Emerald Flannigan ’17, Thaddieus McCall ’09, Sarah Resnick Reid ’11, Nick Riley ’15, Daniel West ’12, and Noah White ’13, all of whom also competed successfully for a position with JET.

Congratulations and おめでとう to all!