When Dusty Rogers first arrived at the George Washington University as a freshman, she had no knowledge of Japanese. Three years later, she stands as the Category II Gold Award winner at the annual J.LIVE Talk competition, a national Japanese speech contest that celebrates language learning through creativity, confidence, and community.
A senior double-majoring in Data Science and Japanese, Rogers grew up in a small Appalachian town in Kentucky surrounded by nature. “I’ve been fascinated by Japanese language and culture since I was a kid,” she said. “But since I come from a small Appalachian town where cultural exchange is quite limited, I wasn’t able to take classes until college.”
Rogers’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable. Last year, she entered J.LIVE Talk for the first time and earned the Category I Silver Award, along with the Kakehashi Award, a 10-day trip to Japan, marking her first experience in the country. This year, she challenged herself by advancing to Category II with mentorship and support from GW’s Japanese Program in the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures (EALL).
In her winning presentation, Rogers spoke about her determination to overcome generational poverty and create better educational opportunities for herself and her nine younger siblings, while addressing common stereotypes about her Appalachian hometown. “It’s okay to leave a place if it hinders your growth or happiness,” she said. “That doesn’t mean you’ve abandoned it or the people you left behind. Sometimes, the greatest impact must be made from a distance.”
Her powerful message about the importance of education, combined with her deep love for her family and hometown, resonated strongly with both the audience and the panel of judges, which included a representative from the Japanese Embassy as well as leaders from the public and private sectors who actively support U.S.–Japan relations.
J.LIVE Talk—short for Japanese Learning Inspired Vision and Engagement Talk—was established to provide college and high school students with a platform to share their ideas, stories, and passions in Japanese. This year, the individual category attracted 77 applicants from 11 states, representing both universities and high schools. Participants are evaluated not only on their language proficiency but also on their vision, audience engagement, and communication skills, including their performance during the Q&A session. “Over the years, we have witnessed countless inspiring moments—students finding their voices, connecting across cultures, and discovering how language can open doors to the world,” said Takae Tsujioka, Executive Director of J.LIVE Talk. “Our mission remains clear: to sustain enthusiasm for Japanese learning and to nurture future leaders who will bridge the United States and Japan through mutual understanding and shared vision.”
As the Category II Gold Award winner, Rogers received a scholarship to attend an eight-week intensive Japanese language program at Nanzan University in Nagoya, Japan. The award includes one round-trip airfare, a $3,000 stipend, and a housing subsidy, made possible through the generous support of J.LIVE Talk’s sponsors, such as the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission, All Nippon Airways, Toshiba International Foundation, and host educational institutions.
As J.LIVE Talk celebrates its 10th anniversary, Rogers’s story perfectly embodies the competition’s mission—to inspire learners to gain new perspectives, deepen their understanding, and appreciate who they are and how they engage with the world. Reflecting on her journey, she said, “Majoring in Japanese was absolutely the best educational decision I could have made, and I am beyond grateful for every experience I’ve had along the way. I can’t wait to see where the future leads!”