Isaac Manrique
earns one of 25 spots in prestigious international academic program
TUBA
CITY, AZ - Tuba City High senior Isaac Manrique, the son of Kathleen
O'Neill and José Manrique, has earned a spot in Stanford
University's 2014 Reischauer Scholars Program (RSP). The program
selects 25 exceptional high school students every year from throughout
the United States to engage in an intensive study of Japan.
Currently in its eleventh year, the program runs from February
to June and provides students with a broad overview of Japanese
history, literature, religion, art, politics, economics and contemporary
society with a special focus on U.S.-Japan relations.
Ambassadors, top scholars and experts throughout the United
States and Japan provide online lectures and engage Reischauer student
scholars in live discussion sessions. The program requires students
to complete weekly readings and assignments and to participate in
discussion forums. Final coursework culminates in an independent
research project. The projects are printed and bound as a journal
of yearly scholar recipients. Students also lead two presentations
on Japan in their home school or home community.
Students who complete their five-month internship receive a
Stanford University continuing studies credit and a certificate
of completion from the Standard Program on International and Cross-Cultural
Education.
Manrique has lived most of his life on both the Hopi and Navajo
reservations with his mother. He also lived in Alaska for a few
years. That cross-cultural living and educational experience has
added to his interest in other countries and cultures and is what
sparked his interest in applying for the Stanford honor.
Linda Miller, a history teacher at Tuba City High School, said
27 students at Tuba City High considered applying for the Reischauer
program.
"It was narrowed down to ten, then to seven and we were
then notified that Isaac made the final cut," she said. "Isaac
is an excellent example of Tuba City high academic preparedness.
Isaac is in the National Honor Society, he's in ROTC, he wrote and
directed a French revolution play last year, he is very disciplined
and the school district is fully behind his continued academic career.
Isaac is also just one of the nicest, most inquisitive students
you would ever want to meet as well."
Manrique, who took the PSAT test last October, was recognized
as one of 14 2013 National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholars
and was also commended in the 2013-14 National Merit Scholarship
Competition from Tuba City High School.
Manrique credits his parents and his three older sisters who
are all in college with providing constant academic encouragement,
along with his English teacher Linda Miller.
"I was able to attend a University of Arizona summer course
and it was great...I had the chance to do my own thing, depend on
my own self, learning how to structure my personal time to study
and then also to have some fun," he said. "Everyone at
Tuba City High who knows me were so supportive and would always
check on my progress to see if I needed help or information that
would move me along in my career choice. I feel very lucky to have
gone to school here."
The Reischauer Scholars participate in virtual classes during
their internship from February to June and are expected to allot
as much as six hours a week to complete lectures, discussions, readings
and assignments. This is the first time Tuba City High will participate
in a virtual learning experience with Manrique as the school's pilot
student.
Tuba City High hopes to add online learning courses in both
mathematics and English beginning in grades 8 - 12 this year to
its college prep program.
Tuba City District's E-College Readiness project will put digital
learning opportunities and freedom at the core of Tuba City's reading
programs. The district's long-term goal is to blend online learning
with traditional classroom learning, allowing high school students
the ability to learn while not physically on campus.
Students could access these programs 24 hours a day, seven days
a week, which will allow greater flexibility and greater freedom
for students. The approach will also help students who live in rural,
remote areas on the reservations who currently rely on long distance
bus transportation to get to and from school every day.
The district is also considering outfitting its school buses
with wireless Internet access that will allow its students to complete
on-line academic work while traveling to and from school. Many of
the students travel as much as 90 minutes to and from school each
day.
Manrique has applied to Massachusetts Institute of Technology
and said he would like to also apply as an exchange student to Japan
after graduation.
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