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JAVA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

2022 JAVA Scholarship Program

16 Scholarships Totaling $27,500 Awarded!

The Japanese American Veterans Association announced 16 winners of the JAVA’s annual scholarship award program for 2022 at the annual JAVA Scholarship Awards Program on Saturday, July 23, 2022. Outstanding students from around the country applied for the scholarships. The candidates for the JAVA scholarships were incredibly talented and accomplished, and all applicants would be worthy of receiving a JAVA scholarship to continue the legacy of the Nisei service to country. Congratulations to all!

The $3,000 Daniel K. Inouye Memorial Scholarship honoring the late U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye’s iconic career of military and civilian public service was awarded to Kiera Hirayama, of Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. The granddaughter of Robert Takashi Hirayama, 442nd RCT, Kiera is pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at Case Western Reserve University with a focus on nursing educational leadership. She received her Master of Science in Nursing Clinical Management at Columbia University in New York and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Creighton University in Nebraska. Kiera is working as an RN in the NICU at New York Presbyterian Medical Center. She is also a clinical instructor at Columbia University School of Nursing.

The $3,000 Ishio Founder’s Scholarship named for JAVA’s founder, the late Colonel Phil Ishio, his wife Constance, and their son Douglas Ishio. It is awarded to a student who has completed 2 or more years of college/university. The Ishio Founder’s Scholarship was awarded to Elizabeth Uno, of Sacramento, California. The granddaughter of Iwao Henry Tamura, 442nd RCT and Dick Uno who also served in WWII. Currently, Elizabeth is pursuing a Master of Public Policy with a focus on Educational Policy at the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley. She has a Masters of Arts in Education from UC Davis and a Bachelor of Arts in History from UCLA. Elizabeth has been a teacher, consultant, and researcher.

The Kiyoko Tsuboi Taubkin Legacy Scholarship, a $2,000 award in honor of a longtime patron of JAVA, is awarded to a student who has completed at least one year in college/university. This scholarship was awarded to Nicole Tanaka, of San Gabriel, California. She is the daughter of JAVA member and Gulf War veteran John Tanaka. Nicole is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Design Media Arts as a 3rd year student at UCLA.

The following JAVA Memorial Scholarships were awarded to graduating high school seniors, each in the amount of $1,500:

Madeleine Doi received the Staff Sgt. Mum Arii Scholarship, in honor of Mamoru “Mum” Arii who served in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Madeleine is the grandniece of Hiroshi Kamimura, 442^nd RCT. From Playa del Rey, California, Madeleine will attend UCLA in the fall and pursue a degree in Bioengineering.

Ryson Ujimori received a JAVA Memorial Scholarship in honor of Dr. Americo Bugliani and his liberator, Paul Sakamoto, 442nd RCT. Ryson is the great-grandnephew of Katsumi Kometani, 100th Battalion. Ryson is from Aiea, Hawaiʻi, and will attend the University of California, San Diego, in the fall.

Claire Nelson received the Carolyn Namie Furumoto JAVA Memorial Scholarship in honor of Carolyn Furumoto, the wife and partner of JAVA member and Vietnam veteran Tak Furumoto. Claire is the granddaughter of Takashi Torakawa, MIS, and is from Exeter, California. She will attend the University of California, Davis, and plans to study Nutrition.

Daniel Shintaku received a JAVA Memorial Scholarship in honor of Ranger Grant Jiro Hirabayashi, MIS. Daniel is the grandson of Takeso Shintaku, MIS and the son of JAVA member Michael Shintaku. From Altadena, California, Daniel will attend the University of Southern California and plans to study Political Science and Economics.

Taleen Sample received the Izuno Family Scholarship, in honor of JAVA member and Korean War veteran, Dr. Takumi Izuno, who served in the U.S. Army 511^th Military Intelligence Service. The great-grandniece of Howard Ogawa, MIS, and JAVA member Elaine Sample, Taleen is from Denver, Colorado. She will attend Brown University in the fall and plans to study Political Science and Economics.

Kai Moriyama received a JAVA Memorial Scholarship in honor of Colonel Jimmie Kanaya, a three-war veteran - WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Kai is the son of JAVA members LTC Heather Moriyama, USA (Ret), and LTC Richard Moriyama, USA, and is from Kaneohe, Hawaiʻi. He will attend the University of Southern California and plans to study Neuroscience.

Natalie Sipress received a JAVA Memorial Scholarship in honor of CWO4 Mitsugi Murakami Kasai, MIS and CIC. She is from Washington, DC, and is the granddaughter of Shigemitsu Nakashima, MIS. Natalie will attend Oberlin College in Ohio, and study Sociology.

Madeline Chun received a JAVA Memorial Scholarship in honor of Sergeant Ben Kuroki, a gunner in the U.S. Army Air Corps, 505th Bombardment Group. Madeline is the great-granddaughter of Samuel Sakamoto, 100th Battalion. From New York, New York, she will attend Yale University and plans to study Ethnicity, Race, and Migration.

Trisha Tanaka received a JAVA Memorial Scholarship in honor of Victor Matsui, MIS, and his wife Teru Matsui. Trisha is the daughter of JAVA member and Gulf War veteran John Tanaka. From San Gabriel, California, she will attend UCLA and plans to study Molecular Biology.

Connor Malinger received a JAVA Memorial Scholarship in honor of Colonel Virgil R. Miller, Commanding Officer of the 442^nd RCT. Connor is the great-grandson of Sadami Katahara 100^th Battalion. From Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, he will attend Lehigh University in Pennsylvania and plans to study integrated Business and Engineering.

Julia Pellei received a JAVA Memorial Scholarship in honor of past JAVA President and Korean War veteran, Robert Nakamoto. Julia is the daughter of JAVA member Steve Pellei and is from Richmond, Virginia. She will attend the United States Naval Academy and plans to study STEM/Engineering.

Rina Mok received a JAVA Memorial Scholarship in honor of Betty Shima, lifelong partner of Terry Shima, 442^nd RCT. Rina is the great-granddaughter of Thomas E Ouye, 442^nd RCT. From Campbell, California, she will attend the University of California, Davis, and plans to study Food Sciences.

Jack Radovich received a JAVA Memorial Scholarship in honor of Major Orville Shirey, 442^nd RCT, and his wife Maud Shirey. Jack is the son of JAVA member COL Kay Wakatake, USA (Ret). From Tacoma, Washington, he will attend the University of Notre Dame and plans to study Mechanical Engineering.

JAVA thanks the Scholarship Committee - Mrs. Chris DeRosa, Chair; Ms. Dawn Eilenberger, JD, former Deputy Director of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence; Major Kay Izumihara, USAR; CAPT (Dr) Cynthia Macri, MC, USN (Ret); and LTC Robert Vokac, USA (Ret).

The future of our nation is in great hands, knowing these young individuals will be at the forefront.

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2022 JAVA Memorial Scholarship Program: Celebrating the Legacy of World War II Nisei Military Service

The Japanese American Veterans Association is excited to announce its annual Memorial Scholarship Program for 2022. The scholarships will benefit a range of graduating high school seniors, undergraduate students, and post-graduate and professional education students.

The scholarships include The U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye Memorial Scholarship ($3,000) honoring the late U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye’s iconic career of military and civilian public service; the Ishio Founder’s Scholarship ($3,000), awarded in memory of JAVA’s founder, Colonel Sunao Phil Ishio, U.S. Army, his wife Constance and their son Douglas Ishio; the Kiyoko Tsuboi Taubkin Legacy Scholarship ($2,000), a tribute to Ms. Kiyoko Tsuboi Taubkin, a longtime supporter of JAVA; as well as JAVA Memorial Scholarships ($1,500), honoring Nisei veterans, JAVA members and/or their family members. The 2022 JAVA Memorial Scholarships are:

Staff Sgt. Mum Arii Scholarship, in honor of Mamoru “Mum” Arii who served in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.
Dr. Americo Bugliani Scholarship in honor of his liberator, Paul Sakamoto, 100th Infantry Battalion/442nd RCT veteran.
Carolyn Namie Furumoto Scholarship in honor of the wife and partner of JAVA member and Vietnam veteran, Tak Furumoto.
Ranger Grant Hirabayashi Scholarship in honor of Ranger Grant Jiro Hirabayashi, MIS.
Izuno Family Scholarship, in honor of JAVA member and Korean War veteran, Dr. Takumi Izuno who served in the U.S. Army 511^th Military Intelligence Service.
Colonel Jimmie Kanaya Scholarship in honor of Colonel Jimmie Kanaya, U.S. Army, a three-war veteran – WW II, Korean and Vietnam.
Mitsugi Kasai Scholarship in honor of CWO 4 Mitsugi Murakami Kasai, MIS veteran.
Ben Kuroki Scholarship in honor of Sergeant Ben Kuroki, a gunner in the US Army Air Corps, 505th Bombardment Group.
Matsui Scholarship in honor of Victor Matsui, MIS veteran, and his wife Teru Matsui.
COL Virgil R. Miller Scholarship in honor of Colonel Virgil R. Miller Scholarship, Commander of the 442nd, who the led the Nisei soldiers in their rescue of the Texas "Lost Battalion" in the Vosges Mountains of France during WWII.
Robert Nakamoto Scholarship, in honor of past JAVA President and Korean War veteran, Bob Nakamoto.
Betty Shima Scholarship, in honor of Betty Fujita Shima, lifelong partner of 442nd veteran, Terry Shima.
Shirey Scholarship, in honor of Major Orville Shirey, 442^nd veteran and wife Maud Shirey.

Descendants of those who served in the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the Military Intelligence Service, the 1399th Engineer Construction Battalion, and the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion; and descendants of Japanese American soldiers who served during World War II in other United States military units to include the Women’s Army Corps or Army Nurses Corps are eligible to apply for a JAVA Scholarship.

Current members of JAVA whose membership began prior to April 1, 2020 are eligible to apply. Children of current JAVA members are also eligible to apply if the applicant’s parent or guardian was a member of JAVA prior to April 1, 2020.

In addition, past or present members of the Army’s 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Reserves are eligible and encouraged to apply for the Senator Daniel K. Inouye Memorial Scholarship. Also eligible are individuals enrolled in a college or university ROTC or U.S. Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Course. Applicants should demonstrate their lifelong commitment to public and uniformed service leadership for the nation.

Applicants should first review published rules and forms. Applications and supporting documents must be electronically submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, April 30, 2022, to javascholarship222@gmail.com with either “2022 Inouye Memorial Scholarship,” “2022 Ishio Founder's Memorial Scholarship,” "2022 Kiyoko Tsuboi Taubkin Legacy Scholarship," or “2022 JAVA Memorial Scholarship” and the applicant’s name in the subject line. Applications not received by that date or that fail to meet the submission requirements will NOT be considered. Applicants will be notified of a decision by early June 2022. Awards will be presented at a JAVA scholarship awards ceremony on Saturday, July 23, 2022.

2022 JAVA Memorial Scholarship Program Overview here.

2022 US Senator Daniel K. Inouye Memorial Scholarship here.

2022 JAVA Ishio Founder's Scholarship here.

2022 Kiyoko Tsuboi Taubkin Legacy Scholarship here.

2022 JAVA Memorial Scholarships here.

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