THE MITZI SHIO SCHECTMAN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: REBECCA OZAKI

Mitzi Shio Schectman was born in Seattle, Washington, the youngest of seven daughters of Shozo and Tsuru Shio. During WWII, her family was forced to abandon their home and business and was interned at Minidoka in Idaho.In 1981, Mitzi testified before the Congressional Commission Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians about the harsh effects of internment on families, “The secure foundation built over 34 years had been destroyed. The family had to start our lives over again, much the way my father did when he made his choice to come to America.There was a difference, however – he left his old life to begin a new one, in a spirit of hope and eager to face the future. The family, exiles in our own country, started the slow process of rebuilding, but we could not look ahead.We could only deal with the present, and tried to forget the past.”

The scholarship given in her name honors the Nisei generation of women who endured the internment camps, suffered the resettlement years, and succeeded in keeping their families together with strength and courage and wonderful grace. It is meant to encourage deserving youth of our community to continue their education and to keep her legacy alive.

The Mitzi Shio Schectman Memorial Scholarship is awarded to Rebecca Ozaki.

Rebecca is a senior at Whitney Young Magnet School where she attained Principle Scholar status and a strong grade point average.  She honors her Filipino and Japanese American heritage as president of the Asian American Club at Whitney Young.  The Asian American Club is the largest ethnic club in the school with more than one hundred members.  The purpose of the club is to spread Asian and Asian American awareness throughout the school and beyond.  In her personal statement, Rebecca says, “One of my priorities as president this year has been to open the club to members of various ethnicities, not only students from Asian descent.  I believe it is necessary to break down the stereotypes that exist in society today...” 

Rebecca is active as Dance Head/Choreographer of Tinikling, a traditional Filipino dance at Whitney Young.  Tinikling dancers move gracefully between large bamboo sticks.  Rebecca is also a member of the school’s top choral performance group, the Concert Choir.  The Choir performs at various functions in Chicago and consistently receives Superior ratings during city-wide choral competitions.  The Choir also travels abroad – last year to Ghana, and Africa and this year to Germany.  

Rebecca’s English and Italian language teacher speaks of Rebecca’s “tremendous commitment and skill” in managing the annual production put on by the Asian American Club each year.  That includes working with the various performance groups and with the school’s administration.   “She is well organized and has good people skills; she does what needs to be done and does it with grace.” 

Rebecca will major in Sociology at the University of Illinois at Chicago “so that I could learn about how others live their lives.”   She plans to continue to honor her heritage.   

THE JOHN IWAOKA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: BRANDON MITA

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 that 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. 

Brandon Mita, son of Robert and Janice Mita is a recipient of a John Iwaoka Memorial Scholarship. 

 Brandon is a 2006 graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago, a Political Science major and recipient of several awards including the Chancellor’s Committee Student Service Award and the Asian American Coalition of Chicago Japanese American Community Youth Award.  He served on the Chicago JACL Board, reinvigorated the Chicago JACL youth group, served as the Youth Committee Chair and Communications Chair, and editor of the Chicago JACL newsletter. 

In 2006-2007, Brandon was the JACL Ford Fellow in JACL’s Midwest District office where he coordinated anti-hate workshops, drafted letters to public officials, created an Asian Pacific American Empowerment Guide for college students, drafted policy positions for National JACL, coordinated a teacher training workshop and a National JACL Day of Remembrance workshop at UIC.    

During the last two years, Brandon has been attending the Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C.  Brandon was a founding member and is an officer of the University’s first Asian Pacific American Law Students Association.  Despite rigorous coursework, Brandon worked for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign and continued his strong ties to JACL as Eastern District Youth Committee Chair and JACL National Youth Representative.  Brandon also took a leadership role in compiling a moving video of the Chicago Redress Hearings that was screened at the 2009 Day of Remembrance event at the Chicago History Museum.

THE JOHN IWAOKA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: ELIZABETH "LISA" DOI

Elizabeth “Lisa” Doi is the daughter of Jac Cerney and Mary Doi.

By acknowledging the importance of her Japanese American heritage, Lisa has learned to embrace her multiracial identity.  Lisa’s commitment to honoring her multiracial identity is transparent through her work inside and outside of school.

At North Shore Country Day School, Lisa held leadership roles with Kaleidoscope, a diversity club, serving as lead organizer of her school’s diversity day. She volunteered with her school’s Community Service Club at events such as blood drives, a Thanksgiving food drive, and a Talent Show benefiting the situation in Darfur.  She stage-managed plays through all four years at high school, participated in the Science Olympiad, and played Field Hockey.  Lisa has also found time to share her enriching high school experience with prospective students by working as a student host and serving as a summer open house student representative with the admissions office.

Away from school, Lisa participated in annual “Day of Remembrance” events over the last four years, volunteered at the Chicago Japanese American Historical Society, the Field Museum’s Cultural Connections Program, the Japanese American Service Committee at Fuji Fest, and the Midwest Buddhist Template at Ginza Holiday and Heiwa Terrace.

Lisa’s counselors describes her as instrumental to the development of many of the school’s most successful programs by being both the visionary and the workhorse for the Kaleidoscope Club and the transformation of the school’s community service program into a service learning initiative directly linked to their curriculum.  Lisa received the North Shore Country Day School Scholarship for Excellence for four consecutive years and the Bridge Builder Award for promoting cross-cultural understanding, and is named an Illinois State Scholar and Huebner Scholar. 

In the Fall, Lisa will be attending the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she plans to major in Nursing. 

THE JOHN IWAOKA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: KENJI NEGI-TRAN

Kenji Negi-Tran, the son of Naomi Negi-Tran and Tong Tran, is a senior at Northside College Prep High School in Chicago.

Kenji is described by teachers as mature, with a highly developed sense of responsibility and leadership, well-organized, and highly motivated.  His stellar academic career and achievements have been recognized with many honors.  He has been on the Honor Roll at Northside Prep every year and was recently named an Illinois State Scholar.  In 2008, he received Chinese National Honors Society Recognition Award.  He received the Principal Award from the Futabakai Japanese Saturday School for his essays and haiku.  In addition, one of his essays was published in the Kaigai Shijyo Kyoiku: Japanese Overseas Education magazine.

In addition to his regular schooling, Kenji has attended the Futabakai Chicago Japanese Saturday School since he was in kindergarten, where his principal ranked him in the top 5% of all students that he has ever taught.

Kenji is active in his school and community.  He is a member of Northside Prep’s Swimming and Diving team as well as the Water Polo team.  He has been a member of the Asian Club since his freshman year and has shared his taiko drumming during this club’s International Day.  He tutors fellow students in Japanese.  He also plays the violin and is a member of his school’s orchestra.  

Kenji is a dedicated member of the JASC Tsukasa Taiko.  He has been drumming with Tsukasa since he was in sixth grade and has performed with this group in many venues around the city.  He has spent many hours volunteering with Tampopo-kai, a Japanese American Children’s Cultural Program at JASC.  He has also volunteered at other JASC events including Fuji Fest,  Out of the House for senior citizens, and Holiday Delight.

Kenji will attend DePaul University the fall and is currently thinking about majoring in international business.

THE JOHN IWAOKA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: KELLI TAKAGI

A John Iwaoka Memorial Scholarship is awarded to Kelli Takagi, the daughter of Robert and Nancy Takagi.

Kelli attends Glenbrook South High School and considers education one of the most important things an individual can give and receive.  She took the initiative to enrich her classmates’ lesson on the Japanese internment by inviting her grandparents to speak about their experiences.  Kelli considers any opportunity to reflect on her personal and cultural identity and share her heritage as a blessing.  As a peer group leader, Kelli has found opportunities to include her Japanese American heritage by introducing her students to Japanese food and teaching them origami.

Kelli has won many academic honors including the Williams College Book Award, Glenbrook South Science Awards and was recently named an Illinois State Scholar.  A well-rounded individual, Kelli also excels in sports, playing three sports and serving as a physical education leader.  Her shining athletic record is complemented by her dedication to service through clubs such as Key Club, Interact Club, and Student To Student, an organization promoting a drug and alcohol free lifestyle for middle school students.

Outside the walls of Glenbrook South, Kelli has shared her love of athletics at the Glenview Park District as a Kids Volleyball Camp Counselor and at the Sansei Yonsei Athletic Association Basketball Clinic as a basketball coach.  Her commitment to service is also reflect through her involvement with Japanese American Service Committee’s Holiday Delight and Habitat for Humanity.

Kelli’s guidance counselor notes her pleasant personality, emanating humility, and well-known leadership skills as her strengths.  Her ability to coach and mentor younger students and value of education will take Kelli far into her future studies in elementary education at Bradley University in Peoria, IL this Fall. 

THE MARY SAKAI MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: NATSUKI JOHO

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.

This year’s Mary Sakai Memorial Scholarship is awarded to Natsuki Joho, daughter of Jeung-Hee Park.  

Natsuki is a senior at Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center High School in Chicago.  She  spent her early childhood in Japan, moving to the United States when she was six years old, first to Ohio and then to Chicago four years later.   An excellent student, Natsuki has been a Von Steuben Scholar and on the Honor Roll every year.  She is a member of the National Honors Society and ranks in the top 4% of her high school graduating class.   

Natsuki is active in her school and community.  She served on the Executive Board of the Von Steuben Student Council and was an active member of the Korean-Vietnamese Club.  Natuski worked for Toys for Tots, and volunteered in a Soup Kitchen.  She is a dedicated student of the piano and enjoys the connection she makes with each piece that she learns.   In addition, Natuski is an accomplished athlete.  She is a member of the Girls Tennis team and Captain of the Girls Soccer team. 

Natsuki has studied and played taiko for 8 years with the JASC Tsukasa Taiko.  She is one of the original members of the youth performing group.  Natsuki writes in her personal statement that after moving to this country, she felt as though her connections to her cultural heritage were disappearing.  Taiko allowed her to reconnect with her life in Japan and her grandmother, who lived a traditional Japanese lifestyle.  Natsuki wrote, “By understanding the deeper meanings of the pieces I play and being able to showcase them to other Japanese, Asian and non-Asian people alike, I will help keep the traditional music of (the) Japanese culture alive.”  

Natsuki will attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and plans to major in mathematics.

THE NOBORU HONDA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: ALEXANDRA VASILOU

Noboru “Noby” Honda was a businessman and leader of the Japanese American community in Chicago for over 70 years until his death in 2002 at the age of 91. He was born and raised in northern California, the eldest of seven children. Although he loved to learn and finished the 8th grade in 6 years, Noby chose to put his education aside to help raise his younger siblings after his mother died.  He was 13 years old. Because he knew the value of education, he made sure all of his siblings finished school. He had no other formal school training.  Noby, his new wife Pat and his family were interned at Tule Lake during WWII. From there he secured a job in Chicago, and after a short time, began his own insurance agency that thrived under his ownership. Noby was always generous in his support of community causes. He held numerous leadership positions in the community including JACL chapter president, JACL Midwest District governor, chaired many fund raising causes and numerous organizations, such as the Japanese American Council.  His family is pleased to offer a scholarship in his memory.

This year’s recipient of the Noboru Honda Memorial Scholarship is Alexandra Mieko Vasilou, daughter of Laurel Fujisawa and Michael Vasilou.

Alexandra is a senior at Lincoln Park High School where she holds a 3.25 grade point average.  She is a member of the National Honor Society, where acceptance is based on academics, level of service, qualities of leadership and good character.  Her high school Science Department Chairman, states that Alexandra is “an all-around outstanding young person and an elite student with incredible potential at the university level and beyond….she scored in the top two of her class (of 54 students) on every single exam this year-she also has an intuitive scientific mind unparalleled in any student I have had the opportunity to teach over my seven year career…”

While taking many honors and advance classes, Alexandra finds time to fund-raise for various local social programs, like the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, and also serves as a tutor 8 hours a week after school.  In the summer of her junior year she volunteered at the Horner Park Day Camp, an after camp program for children with working parents. During her sophomore and senior years, she volunteered at the Horner Park Art Classes, helping with the deaf and hard of hearing students.

Alexandra participates in the annual Day of Remembrance program and during her first year of involvement read aloud the Executive Order 9066.  She continues her involvement in various ways, such as helping with brochures, sign-in sheets and directing the audience.  For the past 6 years, Alexandra has been a volunteer for the Chicago Japanese American Historical Society (CJAHS) where she has helped with the Field Museum Women Board’s annual Christmas Holiday.  For the last 3 years, Alexandra has helped served lunch to senior residents of Heiwa Terrace for the CJAHS annual Senior Appreciation Luncheon.  In 2008, Alexandra helped redesign the CJAHS website to be user-friendly.

Alexandra plays the violin, drums and is currently learning the accordion.  In her freshman year she was in the Lincoln Park String ensemble. As a sophomore, she was in the Lincoln Park band for percussion and in her junior year she was in the All City Jazz ensemble for drums.  She has taken ballet and trained as a figure skater since she was four years old.  Although she does not compete in figure skating anymore, she continues to test with the United States Figure Skating Association. 

Alexandra has also studied clay/sculpture, painting and photography.  Last summer, she was showcased in the “Outdated: Polaroid Art Show”, which used the medium of Polaroid Instant Film.  In May, she will be included in an art show tentatively called “Unangst”.

In the fall, this talented young lady will be attending Loyola University in Chicago, where she was awarded the Damen Scholarship.

THE TODD S. TOMIYAMA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: DANIEL NITAHARA

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 work 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.

This year the recipient of the Todd S. Tomiyama Memorial Scholarship is award is Daniel Nitahara, son of Donna and Scott Nitahara. 

Daniel is a senior at Maine Township High School West in Des Plaines, Illinois, where he maintains a 3.08 grade point average.  He has been on the Maine West Honor Roll in 2008 and 2009.  In Oct of 2008, he was honored with the Warrior of the Quarter Award in Physical Education.  This award is given to top students in the various academic departments.

During Daniel’s high school career, he has been actively involved in sports.  As a freshman and sophomore, he played on the Maine West basketball team.  He was on the school volleyball team all four years.  In 2007 and 2008, he was chosen by the school’s Athletic Department to be a Physical Education leader, where he assisted a PE instructor with one class a day.  He also helps set up and works the scoreboard for the Junior Warrior basketball games.  Daniel’s PE Teacher and Volleyball Coach, Maureen Moeller, described him as “An extremely dedicated and goal oriented student athlete…He demonstrates natural leadership ability and self-confidence…an excellent role model and mentor…Danny has a tremendous work ethic….very conscientious and self-motivated.”

Each winter, from 2006 to the present, Daniel has been a coach with the Sansei Yonsei Athletic Association Basketball Clinic, where he sets up and takes down equipment, teaches and demonstrates basketball skills to young children.

Outside of school, Christ Church of Chicago is a very important part of Daniel’s life.  He is involved with the youth group and volunteers as a Youth Leader for the Vacation Bible School, where he helps set up and assist children during crafts, games and bible classes.  He is a Youth Mentor where he mentors one of the youths going through confirmation classes.  He helps out at the many cultural events at the church such as Aki Matsuri, Udon sale, Mochi Tsuki and Ozoni.  His pastor, Rev. Paulo Gustavo Franca, made the following statement about Daniel, “He is intelligent, naturally curious, has a great sense of humor….he has become a natural leader without overlooking the importance of being a team player.” 

THE MAS NAKAGAWA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: MICHAEL KUDO JR.

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. 

Michael Kudo is the son of Michael and Rosana Kudo, and he is the recipient of the Mas Nakagawa Memorial Scholarship for the second time. 

Michael graduated from Lane Technical High School in 2008 where he had an impressive academic career.  He was an Illinois State Scholar, Lane Scholar, and AP Scholar.  In 2006, he wrote an essay for the Newhouse Architecture Competition that won the Grand Prize.  This award fueled Michael’s preexisting commitment to the field of architecture.  He has been participating in the ACE (Architects, Construction, Engineers) mentor program and Saturday in the Studio Workshops, sponsored by the Chicago Architecture Foundation.

In the Fall of 2008, Michael entered the Illinois Institute of Technology where he studies architecture with a minor in psychology.  His instructor notes that he “along with Michael’s fellow first year Architecture students, have benefited from and been inspired by the quality of Michael’s work and the intensity of his process.”  He further notes that “Michael has the ability and desire to study, process and work equally with the familiar, unfamiliar and challenging.” 

Like Mas Nakagawa, Michael has not only focused on expressing his creativity through architectural design, but he contributes time to benefit the Japanese American community.  While in high school Michael worked with the instructor and group leader of Isshin Daiko to teach Taiko to the Lane Tech Japanese Club.  The instructor wrote, “To my delight, after graduating Michael came back to help his old club this year. “ 

We are pleased to award Michael with the Mas Nakagawa Memorial Scholarship