J.LIVE Talk 2025 Semifinalists

The video submissions have been judged by the first panel of judges. The following 28 semifinalists have been selected. Congratulations to all!  (Listed in alphabetical order by last name)

High School Category I

Xinyu Fan, Palos Verdes Peninsula High School (CA)

Koehn Humphries, Tallwood High School (VA) 

Benjamin Kaganovich, Bella Vista High School (CA)

Layla Michael,  Hayfield Secondary School (VA)

Elaina Rivers, Hayfield Secondary School (VA)

Carla Verdi Pita, Hayfield Secondary School (VA)

High School Category II

William Davis, Dublin Scioto High School (OH)

Jasmine Harris, Ocean Lakes High School (VA)

Maya Newman, Hayfield Secondary School (VA)

Dylan Spitalnick, Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School (NY)

College Category I

Destiny Coleman, University of Toledo

Marcus Grant, University of Maryland Baltimore County

WIlliam Jones, Baylor University

Kelsey O'Donnel, George Washington University

Kevin Peyton, University of Maryland Baltimore County

Joshua Selvester, Baylor University

College Category II

Nicole Adams, Baylor University 

Aria Barstow, Appalachian State University

Elliott Fujinami, Baylor University

Santiago Minjares, Baylor University

Dung Nguyen, University of Cincinnati

Dusty Rogers, George Washington University

College Category III

Noe Baker, Baylor University

Erika Braun, George Washington University

Niko Brown, George Washington University

Allie Colburn, University of Nebraska at Lincoln

Katherine Lin, George Washington University

Olivia Penick, Georgetown University

The semifinalists' videos are now being judged by the second panel of judges. In addition, the semifinalists have been asked to provide a one-minute video message (in Japanese) to the second panel of judges as to what message they would like to convey at the J.LIVE Talk 2025 Final Round. Three finalists will be selected from each category and invited to participate in the Final Round.