The Japanese American Veterans Association announces the winners of the annual memorial scholarship award program for 2019. 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, despite facing tremendous obstacles placed by their government.
The scholarships will continue to benefit a range of graduating high school seniors, advanced undergraduate students, and post graduate and professional education students.
The $5,000.00 memorial scholarship honoring the late US Senator Daniel K. Inouye’s iconic career of military and civilian public service goes to Daniel Nakasone, a junior at the University of Virginia majoring in Economics and Public Policy.
The $3,000.00 Founder’s Scholarship (named for JAVA’s founder, the late Colonel Phil Ishio, USAR, his wife Constance and his son Douglas Ishio), goes to Monica Matsumoto, a medical student at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine.
The JAVA Memorial Scholarships, awarded to graduating high school seniors, each in the amount of $1,500, go to:
Tomi Eijima, in honor of CWO 4 Mitsugi Murakami Kasai, MIS;
Noah Haramoto, in honor Ranger Grant Hirabayashi, MIS;
Bryce Katahara, in honor of Betty Shima, lifelong partner of 442 veteran, Terry Shima;
Fiona Koye, in honor of Jack Tashiro, MIS;
Anna Nakamoto, in honor of Victor Matsui, MIS and his wife Teru;
Nikki Ooka, in honor of Calvin Ninomiya, US Army;
Elaine Oyama, in honor of Major Orville Shirey, 442;
Brian Tani, in honor of Grant Ichikawa, MIS;
Benjamin Uchiyama, in honor of past JAVA President and Korean War veteran, Bob Nakamoto;
Taryn Uyematsu, in honor of Yukio Kawamoto, MIS; and
Brett Wada, in honor of Kiyoko Tsuboi Taubkin, longtime patron of JAVA.
The future of our nation is in great hands, knowing these young individuals will be at the forefront.
Daniel Nakasone, Fort Meade, MD
Unversity of Virginia / Economcs & Public Policy
Daniel K. Inouye Memorial Scholarship
Monica Matsumoto, Charlottesville, VA
University of Chicago – Pritzker School of Medicine
Founder’s Scholarship
Fiona Koye, Bethesda, MD
University of Texas – Austin / Civil Engineering
Jack Tashiro Memorial Scholarship
Noah Haramoto, Whittier, CA
University of California – Riverside / History & Business
Grant Hirabayashi Memorial Scholarship
Brian Tani, Vienna, VA
Virginia Tech University / Environmental Science
Grant Ichikawa Memorial Scholarship
Tomi Eijima, San Francisco, CA
Occidental College / Sociology or Urban & Environmental Policy
Mitsugi Kasai Memorial Scholarship
Bryce Katahara, Great Falls, VA
Cedarville University, OH / Mechanical Engineering
Betty Shima Memorial Scholarship
Anna Nakamoto, McEwen, TX
Tennessee Tech University / Psychology
Vic & Teru Matsui Memorial Scholarship
Benjamin Uchiyama, Joliet, IL
University of Illinois – Chicago / Computer Science
Bob Nakamoto Memorial Scholarship
Nikki Ooka, Wailuku, HI
University of Washington / Biology
Calvin Ninomiya Memorial Scholarship
Elaine Oyama, Del Rio, TX
University of Texas – San Antonio / Medical Humanities
Orville & Maud Shirey Memorial Scholarship
Brett Wada, Gardena, CA
Cal State – Fullerton / Business Management
Kiyoko Tsuboi Taubkin Memorial Scholarship
Thank You 2019 JAVA Scholarship Committee!
Mrs. Chris DeRosa, Chair; Dawn Eilenberger, JD; CDR Janelle Kuroda, JAGC, USNR; CAPT (Dr) Cynthia Macri, MC, USN; and Mary Murakami
Special thanks to JAVA Veterans, Families and Donors
Also thanks to: Al Goshi, Mark Nakagawa & Bill Houston
