Lewisburg teen learns Russian language, culture through scholarship

Justin Strawser, The Daily Item, Sunbury, Pa.
·3 min read

Oct. 10—LEWISBURG — A Lewisburg Area sophomore spent her summer studying Russian language and culture through a National Security Language Initiative for Youth Virtual Summer Intensive scholarship.

Annika Ikeda Shields, 15, of Lewisburg, spent three weeks in Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, Conn., learning ballet and six weeks learning Russian culture and language through online learning. Shields, who has been doing ballet since she was age 4, is the daughter of a Canadian immigrant father and a Japanese immigrant mother.

"I learned a lot about Russian culture and language," said Shields. "I liked the cultural immersion and learning about other people and their values. I became more interested in Russian literature, too."

Shields, who already speaks English and Japanese and is learning French in high school, is involved in student council and pole vaulting at the Lewisburg Area High School.

The scholarship program is part of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs that promotes critical language learning among American youth. The 2023 program was implemented by ASE Global Bridges as part of its Bolshoi Ballet Academy Summer Intensives in New York and Connecticut. ASE Global Bridges is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting mutual understanding, respect and shared values between the people of the United States, Eurasia and Eastern European countries through common bonds of arts, sports and education.

The language initiative program aims to provide robust language and cultural learning opportunities by creating authentic and immersive experiences to connect the participants with teachers, international peers, cultural organizations, and communities where the target language is spoken, according to the Department of State.

Shields auditioned for Bolshoi in January and learned about the program. The highly competitive program required an interview and the writing of three essays.

"I am super into ballet and the Russian style," she said.

Shields said the experience was a little scary and confusing. She went without her parents to Connecticut where all the instructors spoke Russian and communicated through translators.

The program had plenty of cultural immersion activities, special speakers, samples of Russian sweets, crafts and Zoom calls with Russian students, said Shields.

James Shields, a professor of comparative humanities and Asian thought and was inaugural director of the Humanities Center at Bucknell University, and Sachiko Ikeda said they are "very proud" of their daughter.

"We're excited she's in the program," said Shields.

Ikeda said learning new languages is "very hard."

"The program is well done," she said.

Annika Shields is currently continuing the program this fall through Zoom and plans to apply for another program to study abroad.

The language iniatiave program is part of a multi-agency U.S. Government initiative launched in 2006 to improve Americans' ability to communicate in select critical languages, advance international dialogue, and provide Americans with jobs skills for the global economy. Many alumni go on to pursue education and careers vital to U.S. national security and credit the program experience with helping them improve their academic, leadership, and cross-cultural communication skills, according to the Department of State.

The program is administered by the American Councils for International Education in cooperation with AFS-USA, American Cultural Exchange Service, AMIDEAST, iEARN-USA, ASE Global Bridges, Stony Brook University, the University of Delaware, and the University of Wisconsin. The U.S. Department of State conducts study abroad programs for more than 1,000 American high school students and approximately 3,000 foreign high school students each year. Visit https://exchanges.state.gov/highschool for details.