Joliet Catholic Academy students Karlyn Budz, Casey Corless, and Dalton Jones attended the STARTALK Program at Lewis University in Romeoville recently.

STARTALK is one of the projects of the National Security Initiative, a multi-agency effort to expand foreign language education in under-taught critical languages by funding new and existing programs and to provide incentives and rewards for foreign language learning.

STARTALK’s overall mission is to increase the number of young Americans learning and speaking critical need foreign languages by offering creative and engaging summer learning experiences for students (K-16).

This year’s program offered participants intensive instruction in two critical languages, Chinese and Russian. Budz, Corless, and Jones attended language classes and supplementary extracurricular activities daily for six weeks.

The program concluded with a closing ceremony. During this ceremony, students demonstrated their achievement by performing for parents, community, University administration, School District officials, and others.