WHS student earns prestigious language scholarship

WASILLA — Out of 3,000 applicants, 1,500 semifinalists, and 600 finalists, Wasilla High School’s very own senior Haley Jenkins has been awarded the National Security Initiative for Youth Scholarships awarded by the U.S State Department.

The goal of NSLI-Y is “to develop a cadre of Americans with advanced linguistic skills and related cultural understanding who are able to use their linguistic and cultural skills to advance international dialogue and compete effectively in the global economy.” It includes all expenses paid for a year abroad in South Korea.

“I don’t feel like I’m going yet, but I'm sure I will,” said Jenkins, a senior. “But for now it’s like, ‘Oh crap! I have to learn Korean.’”

The application process started in November and included two intense interviews over the phone. Many of NSLI-Y participants go on to continue their education at Ivy League schools such as Harvard and Yale.

“I am going to go to UAF when I come back,” Jenkins said. “They have a good linguist program and my sister went there, too.”

WHS Japanese teacher Carla Swick said Jenkins worked hard to get this scholarship. Although the student said she never believed that she would be chosen, Swick assured her that Jenkins had what it took. One reason Swick was so assured was her work-study project last summer.

Jenkins spent five weeks in Japan in the summer of 2015 participating in the Sushi and Sustainability project. The group studied Japanese and contributed service work with tsunami recovery projects. This experience gave Jenkins the motivation and desire to become a language enthusiast and apply for the NSLY-I opportunity.

“It was my happiest feeling all year when I found out,” Japanese teacher Carla Swick said. “I saw her mom in the parking lot crying. I thought something was wrong. But she was crying because Haley made it. She had the acceptance letter in her hand.

“This is going to be a life-changing event for Haley. I couldn’t be more proud. There isn’t anyone more deserving.”

Jenkins will spend a full year after graduation abroad in South Korea. Half of her days will consist of attending a high school in Seoul and spending time with students. The other half of her day will consist of taking several language classes until she can prove she is fluent in Korean in a final and strenuous exam. The final also determines if she can be considered alumni of the program.

After her year abroad Haley plans to study as a linguist. Linguists must be fluent in preferably three, but at least two languages.

“I’m really excited,” Haley said. “But, I still can’t believe they picked me.”

Eli Ickes is a senior at Wasilla High. He writes for the Warrior Word and Mat Su Gazette.