Ohio State Marion senior Micah Harris, a history major from Upper Sandusky, has been awarded a Freeman Foundation Asia Summer Scholarship to support a two‑month internship in Japan beginning in May 2026.
Harris learned about the internship after Ohio State Marion Professor of History Margaret Sumner recommended the program to him. He will work with a nonprofit organization in Tokyo, with placement details expected to be finalized this spring.
“Japan has always fascinated me,” he said. “The country transformed from an isolated feudal society to a modern world power in just a few decades. Its history and global cultural influence continue to intrigue me.”
The Freeman Foundation award will cover most of the program’s costs. Harris acknowledged the assistance of Sumner, Ohio State Marion Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, John Maharry, and Ohio State History Department Chair, Scott Levi, for additional funding. Harris said the internship directly supports his preparation for a future career in public history. He has served for three years on the board of a historical institution and expects the international nonprofit experience to strengthen his résumé and leadership skills. He also hopes the trip will deepen his research interests in Japanese and American history.
He will leave for Tokyo on May 27, 2026, and return July 25, 2026.
After graduation, Harris plans to continue studying East Asia and to pursue opportunities with institutions focused on Japanese history, particularly the World War II era. He also intends to study the Japanese language professionally.
He emphasized the value of international experiences for students, especially those from rural communities. “I grew up in small towns where people didn’t often travel,” Harris said. “Experiences like this allow you to see the world firsthand and form your own opinions. I’ve visited three countries so far, and I hope Japan expands my horizons even more.”
The Freeman Foundation is a private foundation with offices in Honolulu, HI. The Freeman Foundation’s major objectives include strengthening the bonds of friendship between the United States and countries of East Asia. Through education and educational institutes, the Foundation hopes to develop a greater appreciation of Asian cultures, histories, and economies in the United States and a better understanding of the American people and of American institutions and purposes by the peoples of East Asia.