2010 Scholarship Recipients (L-R): Dara Oda, Michael Nitahara, Anna Takada, Remy Hidaka, Alexander Ozawa. Not pictured: Jacqueline Mac and Kenji Morimoto.

Recipient Profiles:

The John Iwaoka Memorial Scholarship
Remy Hidaka
Jacqueline Mac
Kenji Morimoto

The Mas Nakagawa Memorial Scholarship
Alexander Ozawa

The Mary Sakai Memorial Scholarship
Anna Takada

The Todd S. Tomiyama Memorial Scholarship
Dara Oda

The Yoshino Family Scholarship
Michael Nitahara

THE JOHN IWAOKA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Since 2008, the Chicago JACL has been pleased to award scholarships from a Trust established by the estate of John Iwaoka.

John Iwaoka was born in Santa Rosa, California and grew up in San Francisco.  His father owned a dry cleaning business. John attended Polytechnic High School in San Francisco, which specialized in trades and vocational training.  After graduation, John decided to learn a trade and went to work with two Issei men who taught him carpentry.  John became a very accomplished carpenter and took pride in his profession. At the outbreak of World War II, John and his family were relocated to Heart Mountain Internment Camp in Wyoming.  After the war, he came to Chicago and eventually bought a building with his brother, Sam, and sister, Rose. In his personal life, John enjoyed golfing, fishing, making Japanese food, Taiko performances, Japanese films, and Japanese community events.  He was very good at sketching and rode his bicycle until he was in his 80's.

Although John did not have formal education beyond high school, he put a lot of value on education.  John's biggest regret is that he did not have children to carry on his legacy.  In the place of heirs, he established a trust fund for the Chicago JACL to set up scholarships to empower future generations of Japanese Americans to follow their dreams.  This year, the JACL is offering three (3) scholarships from the John Iwaoka Trust Fund. 

THE JOHN IWAOKA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: REMY HIDAKA

One of this year’s John Iwaoka Memorial Scholarships is awarded to Remy Hidaka, the daughter of Jeffrey and Sharon Hidaka.  Remy will graduate from New Trier Township High School in Wilmette, where she is described by her teachers as being a hard-working, enthusiastic, motivated student with a keen, inquisitive mind.  Her academic career has been decorated with honors - including a Special Recognition in Science Award and being named an Illinois State Scholar.

Remy also has a gift for languages.   Since her first year at New Trier, she has studied Chinese and continues this year in an advanced placement course.  After a trip to China, she earned membership into the National Chinese Honor Society and won a Bronze medal in the 2009 National Chinese Essay contest.  In spite of these achievements, teachers marvel how humble she is about her talents and abilities and stress her compassionate heart and respect of everyone.

Remy takes an active role in her school community.  She is a dedicated badminton athlete and was named Most Valuable Player on the Junior Varsity team and later became Captain.  She held officer positions on both the Japanese and Chinese Culture Clubs and she is a member of the Student Instructional Leadership Corp, which invites students to become a teacher assistant.

Outside of school, Remy’s generous service has impacted others.  She has utilized her natural teaching ability to tutor children, she volunteered at the Special Olympics, participated in the Adopt-a-Family program, and she raised money and helped build a Habitat for Humanity home. Additionally, she is a member of the Student Advisory Board at the public library and is working on how to make the library a more teen-friendly place.

Through her work with the Japanese American Service Committee office, annual Fuji Fest, and the JASC All Camp Reunion -  as well as her participation in the JACL’s  “Project: Community” -  Remy already demonstrates a commitment to our Japanese American  community .

We hope she continues that commitment as she goes on to Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, where she will major in Engineering.

We are pleased to award her with a John Iwaoka Memorial Scholarship.

THE JOHN IWAOKA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: JACQUELINE MAC

One of the John Iwaoka Memorial Scholarships is awarded to Jacqueline Mac, the daughter of Stanley and Nancy Mac of Chicago. 

Jacki graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a major in Psychology and minor in Asian American Studies, and she is currently working on her Masters of Arts degree in College Student Personnel at the University of Maryland in College Park.

At the University of Illinois, Jacki earned numerous honors and leadership awards, and her exceptional academic record has continued through graduate school where she balances a full course load and maintains a 4.0 GPA while working 30 hours a week at the university.

On top of working as a Graduate Assistant and doing research on a team mostly comprised of doctoral students, Jacki is also on the Graduate Student Government Diversity Committee, the Admitted Students Preview Committee, and she coordinates a leadership academy for undergraduate students.

One of Jacki’s most extraordinary qualities is her tireless dedication and commitment to addressing Asian American issues.  She made valuable contributions to the Asian American community in college through her work as the JACL Campus Hate Crime Liaison, Co-Director of the Asian Pacific American Coalition, Intern for the Asian American Cultural Center, and as Co-Author of a psychology article in a book on Asian American identities and racial climate, which was published in 2008.

After graduating from college, Jacki continued to take on leadership roles in the community.  She participated in the Asian American Suicide Prevention Initiative, volunteered at the JASC, and she was the Ford Program Fellow at the Japanese American Citizens League in Chicago, where one of her countless accomplishments was creating, researching and publishing her own project focused on the mental health of Asian American students.

As a graduate student at the University of Maryland, Jacki became a founding member of the Community of Asian Pacific American Graduate Students, and she currently works on the Asian American Psychological Association Convention Committee, while holding an officer position on the University of Illinois Asian American Alumni Association.  Without question, Jacki has truly devoted herself to serving Asian Americans.

Jacki plans to pursue a career in counseling, with a specific focus on improving college experiences for students of color, and ultimately, she sees herself programming and practicing at an Asian American non-profit agency.

We are pleased to present to Jacki’s family a John Iwaoka Memorial Scholarship on her behalf.

THE JOHN IWAOKA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: KENJI MORIMOTO

Kenji Morimoto, son of Richard and Joyce Morimoto, is also one of this year’s John Iwaoka Memorial Scholarship recipients. 

Kenji is finishing his 3rd year at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, where he is majoring in East Asian Studies.  In addition to his outstanding academic performance at this exemplary university, Kenji’s college experience is distinguished by his exceptional leadership.  School administrators describe him as one of the strongest Asian American leaders on campus, standing out for having “contributed thoroughly to both his own ethnic community and to the larger Pan-Asian community.”

Kenji has been instrumental in uniting diverse groups on campus to create dialogue and work together.  Under his direction as President, the Japanese Cultural Association partnered with Brown’s Hillel to talk about issues that affect both the Japanese and Jewish communities.  As the Co-Director of Gendo Taiko, Brown’s taiko group, he reached out to a South Asian dance team to collaborate on joint pieces.  Kenji also worked to increase involvement of the broader Asian community in creating Visions, an Asian American Literary Arts publication, which he is currently the Managing Editor.  This past year, Kenji further demonstrated his commitment to a pan-Asian community by organizing workshops, panel discussions and a closing ceremony that encompassed all aspects of Asian identity for Brown University’s Asian/Asian American History Month.

Kenji is highly involved with the Asian American community; however, he assumes leadership roles serving the larger community as well.  As a Captain and member of the Steering Committee, Kenji helps plan and coordinate resources for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.  He has taught debate, critical reading skills and analysis to local high school students as part of the Rhode Island Urban Debate League, and he has been an Orientation Leader for Building Understanding Across Differences, a diversity program for entering freshman.

As a previous JACL national and local scholarship winner, Kenji tries to remain connected with the JACL through attending events like the youth group meetings and participating in the college panel when he is in Chicago.  Overall, Kenji has shown an admirable commitment to academics, service, and the Asian American community, and we are sure he will continue to grow as a leader during his last year at Brown.

We are pleased to award his family this John Iwaoka Memorial Scholarship on Kenji’s behalf.

THE MAS NAKAGAWA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: ALEXANDER OZAWA

The Mas Nakagawa Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of Mas Nakagawa, a talented and successful graphic artist.  Mr. Nakagawa served with the famed 442nd Regimental Combat Team during WWII.  He settled in Chicago after his discharge and studied at the Illinois Institute of Design.  While honing his skills professionally, he began to contribute countless hours to JACL and the community designing invitations, programs, logos, etc.  There are many samples of his designs in the JACL files. The scholarship is typically given to a student who is pursuing further study in the creative arts or related field. 

Alexander Ozawa, son of David and Teresa Ozawa, is this year’s recipient of the Mas Nakagawa Memorial Scholarship.  Alec is a senior at John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights, where he has earned a place on the B Honor Roll for four years.  This is no small feat, as he balanced a courseload that includes honors and advanced courses, while being active in extra-curriculars, performing community service, and working a job.

An avid photographer, Alec developed his passion for the art after taking an introductory photography course his sophomore year.  Since then, he has continued to pursue this interest, enrolling in an Advanced Placement Photography course at school.  In 2009, Alec won 1st place for photography at a local “Life is Simply Art” exhibit.  He has also received multiple honorable mentions at the Regional High School Harper Art Show.  Alec’s photography teacher has described him as a very self-motivated learner and a hard-working student, citing the time he has taken to research various methods and tools, as well as his willingness to experiment with different techniques. 

Alec has applied this exceptional talent to benefit his school community by joining the school newspaper as a photographer, writer, and graphic designer.  According to a school faculty member, he has “changed the quality of the newspaper with his exciting images.”  Additionally, Alec’s entrepreneurial ambition led him to become the photographer for a local skateboard shop and to use his photos to develop a website for his own client.

There is another dimension to Alec’s achievements: he possesses a sincere compassion for helping others.  He has worked to host the “Fun Olympics,” a day devoted to children with mental disabilities. In 2007 and 2008, he spent a week doing service in an impoverished county in the Appalachian Mountains.  Alec is also a long-time, regular volunteer at PADS, a homeless shelter that provides men and women with housing, meals and social services.  The shelter’s site director praised Alec for being reliable and conscientious with the maturity to “know how fortunate he is and how important it is to assist those in need in our community.” 

In the spirit of Mas Nakagawa, Alec plans to pursue Photography while attending the University of Illinois at Chicago.

We are pleased to award Alexander with the Mas Nakagawa Memorial Scholarship.

THE MARY SAKAI MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: ANNA TAKADA

Mary Sumi Sakai was born in 1929 in Hood River, Oregon, the fourth of five daughters of Tatsuhiko and Tsuye Matsumoto.  Despite beginning her high school education in the Rohwer internment camp in Arkansas, Mary ended up graduating fifth in her class from Hyde Park High School in Chicago.  Lacking the financial resources to complete a four-year degree, however, Mary went on to attend the University of Illinois at Navy Pier, which at that time offered a two-year degree.  Despite her success as a media buyer for W.B. Doner in Chicago, Mary always regretted not being able to finish her college education.  In her honor, the Mary Sakai Scholarship is extended to help a young woman achieve her educational goals.

Anna Mieko Takada, daughter of Michael Takada and Susan Oliver, is the recipient of this year’s Mary Sakai Memorial Scholarship.  Anna is a senior at Walter Payton College Prep, one of the most selective high schools in Chicago. 

Among her peers, Anna stands out academically due to her maturity, seriousness of purpose and her passion for learning from every opportunity.  Anna is a participant of the University of Chicago’s Collegiate Scholars Program, where she spent the past three summers preparing for college by taking courses in math, literature, social sciences and writing, taught by University of Chicago professors.  She is also a member of the National Honor Society, and a gifted writer, both in creative and non-fiction writing.  Her English teacher at Walter Payton describes Anna’s writing as “exceptional due to the care and precision with which she selects her language.”

In addition to her extraordinary academic and literary achievement, Anna has developed her leadership and athletic skills while participating on her high school sports teams.  She is currently the Captain of the basketball team, and she was named Most Valuable Player for two years in a row.  She also plays on the soccer team and manages the school tennis team.

Anna has a deep interest in her cultural heritage.  In her scholarship application, she expressed a desire to preserve the past of her culture, as well as ensure the vitality of the Asian American community of the future.  Through her participation in various projects, she has demonstrated an eagerness to do just that.  In 2007, Anna took an active role in the Japanese American Service Committee’s Mural Project, and helped honor the legacy of the Japanese Americans who resettled in Chicago during and after World War II.  Currently, Anna is a member of the JACL’s “Project Community” program, where she has explored her identity as a Japanese-American with her peers.

As Anna graduates and goes on to the college of her choice, we believe she will continue to exemplify the perseverance and commitment to education that Mary Sakai embodied.

We are pleased to award Anna Takada with the Mary Sakai Memorial Scholarship.

THE TODD S. TOMIYAMA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: DARA ODA

The Todd S. Tomiyama Scholarship was established by his father Taketo Tomiyama from a bequest provided by his grandmother through the Fumiko Tomiyama Trust.  Todd's grandmother appreciated how hard all her grandchildren had worked to achieve  success.  Todd, however, passed before he could reach his full potential.  This scholarship is provided in memory of Todd S. Tomiyama for his hard work and community involvement.

The scholarship given in Todd Tomiyama’s honor is awarded this year to Dara Mieko Oda, the daughter of David and Julia Oda from Naperville.  Dara received her education through an academically rigorous home schooling program in coordination with the Green Leaf Academy Tutorial, which has included a diverse curriculum of honors and Advanced Placement level courses. 

Dara’s Rhetoric instructor describes her as a thoughtful, insightful student.  She is “a well rounded young lady who exhibits a high degree of leadership and strong character in addition to excellent academic success.” 

Part of what makes Dara so well rounded is her passion and dedication to dance.  For over 15 years, she has studied at the School of DanceWest Ballet.  Beginning as a student, Dara has become a member of the pre-professional ballet company, and now teaches ballet students of her own.  She has performed in the Chicago area as well as in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Pennsylvania.  Recognition for her dancing includes an award from the Regional Dance America-Craft of Choreography Dance Program.  In 2008, she received the first place scholarship from the Regional Dance America for the Mid-States Region, and she also won a scholarship for the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater Summer Intensive Program.

Dara is very generous with her time and has been a strong role model in her community. She mentors and teaches aspiring elementary and school-aged dancers in workshops and classes, and she teaches Sunday school to first grade students at her church.  She has also been volunteering to help children in third world countries with the Feed My Starving Children organization since 2007. 

In her application, Dara wrote that as a “half Japanese and half Caucasian teenager,” she still has much to discover about her self.  However, she gives credit to her grandparents for helping her learn about her Japanese American background and hopes to participate more in the JACL.  We support her in that exploration as she attends Belhaven University in Jackson, Mississippi to major in dance, biology, or exercise science.

We are pleased to award Dara with the Todd Tomiyama Scholarship.

THE YOSHINO FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP: MICHAEL NITAHARA

The Yoshino Family Scholarship is presented in honor of Maurice and Misako Yoshino who strongly believed in the value of education as one of the foundations of their family life.  They worked to ensure that each of their children had the opportunity to receive a college education.  Ron, Bill, and Larry Yoshino award this scholarship in honor and memory of their parents.

This year, the Yoshino Family scholarship is awarded to Michael Nitahara, the son of Ken and Jacqueline Nitahara.  Michael lives in Glenview and will graduate from Glenbrook South High School, where he maintains a strong academic record.  As a result, he has received recognition for his achievements - including the Excellence in Science, Excellence in Math, and Athletic Scholar honors.

Michael is described by his high school counselor as easy-going and enjoyable, yet he has the ability to be a fierce and focused competitor.  These qualities have enabled him to become an accomplished athlete and leader.  He has been a dedicated member of Glenbrook South’s volleyball team and club volleyball for the past four years.  All the while, he found time to participate in the SYAA Basketball Clinic.  Two years ago, Michael was selected to join the Glenbrook South Athletic League’s Leadership Conference, which is where he learned how to lead by example and motivate his teammates to work hard.

Michael continues to meet with the Leadership Conference to further develop his leadership skills, which he applies every time he reaches out to make an impact on his community.  Throughout high school, he has invested time to coach youth volleyball.  He has also participated in many of the cultural activities at the Christ Church of Chicago and is an active member of his church’s youth group.

Having practiced, played and performed with Tsukasa Taiko for four years, and by taking part in the Obon, Kodomo-no-hi, and Mochitsuki festivals, Michael has also been engaged with the Japanese American community.  Most recently, he participated in the Chicago JACL’s “Project: Community” program and plans to share information about this new program to members of his youth group at his church.  He sees “Project: Community” as an important and unique opportunity for youth to learn more about JACL.

We hope Michael will continue the Yoshino family traditions of JACL involvement, leadership, and education as he continues his studies at St. Louis University in the fall.  He plans to focus on becoming a physical therapist or athletic trainer.

We are pleased to award Michael Nitahara with the Yoshino Family Scholarship.