J.R. Tucker High School sophomore Caleb Willis, who began studying Chinese in sixth grade through the Gifted Young Scholars Academy at Wilder Middle School, has received an invitation to visit China after winning a raffle at a Chinese New Year Reception in Washington, D.C.
Willis credits his interest in Chinese language and culture to his experiences with Henrico County Public Schools. “Henrico County Public Schools provided me with the amazing opportunity to take Chinese with Dr. Yan Gao, and that was the catalyst for all of this,” he said.
He attended the reception through his involvement with NVA STEM, an organization that supports STEM events for K-12 students and works with the Richmond Sister Cities Commission. The event included hundreds of leaders and diplomats, among them Ambassador Xie Feng.
During the celebration, Willis learned he held the winning ticket for a round-trip flight to China. “[The ambassador] told me I started the Year of the Horse lucky,” Willis said. “I was elated.” He added, “I was shocked.”
Willis plans to travel to China with his family in early summer. The itinerary includes visiting Sias University in Zhengzhou—one of Richmond’s sister cities—to tour the campus and learn about higher education in China. He also plans to visit historical sites such as the Great Wall, try local cuisine, and use his language skills during the trip.
Henrico County Public Schools offers educational services throughout Henrico County, Virginia, adjacent to Richmond (official website). The district is recognized for teaching excellence and has received accolades such as REB Awards for classroom performance and professional development (official website). Amy Cashwell serves as superintendent (official website), leading efforts focused on positive learning experiences supported by dedicated staff (official website). The district operates under the motto: “The right to achieve. The support to succeed” (official website).
Willis says he looks forward to learning more about China’s history during his trip and further developing his language skills.