From The Oakridger (Monday, July 12, 2010 page 3B)

Oak Ridge students go to Japan;
Japanese students come here in Aug.

The Oak Ridge Sister City Organization is celebrating the 20th anniversary of partnership with Naka-shi, Japan.

The Oak Ridge Middle School Exchange delegation, consisting of 10 students and two teachers from Robertsville and. Jefferson Middle schools,
arrived in Japan on July 5. Traveling with the student delegation and representing the city of Oak Ridge are Mayor Tom Beehan and his wife,
Kaye Brookshire; president of the Oak Ridge SCSO, Steve Kelley, and Shigeko Uppuluri, initiator of the Naka-Oak Ridge union in 1990.

After touring Tokyo, the group will be welcomed in Naka-shi and hosted by Japanese students and their families.

The Naka-Shi exchange students will come to Oak Ridge in August to stay with Oak Ridge host families and attend Robertsville
and Jefferson Middle schools.


Special to The Oakridger
 The Oak Ridge/Naka-Shi Sister City 20th anniversary delegation arrives in Japan. Pictured are Steve Kelley, Shigeko Uppuluri, William Mason, Warren LaForest, Sam Kelley, Andy Tatum, Jefferson Middle School teacher Jason Nussbaum, Sydney Buckner, Robertsville Middle School teacher Abbie Wilmore, Kay Brookshire, Mayor Tom Beehan, Amy Douglas, Yuri Kato, Gracie Hall, Tiffany Potok and  Madelyn Fowler.

From Oct 18 to 22, a 20-person delegation representing Naka-shi will come to Oak Ridge. This delegation includes
the Naka mayor and  his wife, several Naka city and school officials, and 10 representative of Naka Wings for Women.  Activities for this group are being coordinated by the city of Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge schools, and the Sister City Support Organization. 

The SCSO  is searching for host homes in the Oak Ridge area for the October Japanese guests.  Hosts are invited to participate in the delegation activities and need to provide lodging, some meals, and transportation for their guests.  Anyone interested in this international opportunity should contact Jerry Luckmann at (865) 483-3958, or email kluckmann@bellsouth.net, or e-mail Pat Row at pdrow@bellsouth.net.