Twenty-one students and four staff members are representing Steinmetz on an all-expense paid trip to Japan.

After hosting Japanese students at Steinmetz for in 2015 and 2014 in one-day educational exchanges, this year Principal Stephen Ngo obtained the incredible 8-day opportunity in which the travel to Japan, food and accommodations in Japan are free to all the participants.

The trip is courtesy of the Kakehashi Project, promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and made possible by the The Japan-U.S. Educational Commission (Fulbright Japan), co-organized by: The Japan Foundation and The Laurasian Institution.

The students in Japan are Stephanie Alonso, Alejandro Alonzo, Kienna Bariso, Klaudia Batko, Marisol Bernardino, Catherine Delgado, Javier Delgado, Luis Estrada, Jorge Garcia, Melissa Gonzalez, Tyler Graves, Magda Hernandez, Ashley Komperda, Lukasz Kuczynski, Stanley Kurian, Jonathan Ovalle, Jose Padilla, Maria Reyna, Jacqueline Saldana, Lissette Sandoval, Erica Toro.

Principal Stephen Ngo, Col. John Baynes, staff member Angel Gonzalez and counselor Deono Powell are chaperoning the students.

The group left Chicago on March 14 from O’Hare Airport. They arrived at Narita International Airport on March 15 in the afternoon.

The view from Hotel East 21 in Tokyo, Japan, where the Steinmetz group checked in on March 15. Photo by Ashley Komperda.

“Japan is beautiful,” Star reporter Ashley Komperda said.