J.LIVE Talk 2026 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

Kai Callister, Washington Japanese Heritage Center (MD) 

Ethan Chen, Crystal Springs Uplands School (CA)

Adrian Ray Curameng, Lake Braddock Secondary School (VA)

Athena Gipson, Hayfield Secondary School (VA)

Luke Healy, Ocean Lakes High School (VA)

Kenji Kirby, Washington Japanese Heritage Center (MD) 

High School Category II

Neil Dave-Syed, Hackley School (NY)

Lucia Ishii, Hayfield Secondary School (VA)

Leslie James, Stevenson School (CA)

Calvin Kim, Lake Braddock Secondary School (VA)

Caelis Mattingly, Ocean Lakes High School (VA)

James Gavin Shryoc, Phillips Academy Andover (MA)

College Category I

LilyAnn Booth, Baylor University 

Ruby Cai, Stony Brook University

Rosalia Flores, University of West Florida

Kayla Perlman, The George Washington University

Zahid Rafeek, Pennsylvania State University 

George Rogers IV, Georgetown University

College Category II

Nicole Adams, Baylor University 

Adam Deslatte, Baylor University

Andrew Kim, Baylor University

Tao Li, Rice University

Yinzhe Liu, Georgetown University

Ethan Mikell, Baylor University

College Category III

Hailey Martin, Brigham Young University

Yuki Soda, Texas A&M University

Juliana Tetherow, Baylor University 

Muxin Yao, University of Pennsylvania