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Contact: Julia Tominaga
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SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED IN HONOR OF WWII VET EIRO YAMADA
For Immediate Release
Eiro Yamada and grandchild
TORRANCE, CA (June 4, 2009)– Twelve students who are descendants of World War II Japanese American veterans will receive Eiro Yamada Memorial Scholarships, the Go For Broke National Education Center announced today.
This year's recipients, all of whom are residents of California and Hawai'i, are pursuing degrees in Biochemistry, Education, English, Engineering, International Relations, and Physical Therapy at colleges and universities throughout the nation. The scholarship committee chose the recipients based on the applicants' essays, which discussed the experiences of Japanese American World War II veterans' and their continuing impact on the current generation.
"These students demonstrated a deep understanding and appreciation of the legacy of our Japanese American World War II veterans," said Christine Sato-Yamazaki, President & Chief Executive Officer of the Go For Broke National Education Center. "We are encouraged by their sincere interest in learning more about this important chapter in our history, and hope that this scholarship helps them in their educational careers. The Go For Broke National Education Center is pleased to administer this scholarship on behalf of the Yamada-Scott Family Foundation and extend our genuine congratulations to this year's recipients."
The 2009 recipients of the Eiro Yamada Scholarships:
Sean Kenji Bonnell, a 2009 graduate from Palos Verdes Peninsula High School, will be attending UCLA, majoring in Biochemistry.
Richard Randolph Carrillo, from West Sacramento, will be attending UC Davis, majoring in Biochemistry.
Stephan E. Chao, from Piedmont, California, will be entering the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in International Relations.
Amy Kristin Choi, from Torrance, California, will be continuing her education at El Camino College.
Lindsay Mieko Fujinaka, from Alameda, California will be attending USC, working on her graduate degree in Physical Therapy.
Marisa Kiyomi Fujinaka, from Alameda, California will be attending the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute, completing her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential.
Maya Kanani Kochiyama, a 2009 graduate from the California Academy of Math & Science in Carson, will be entering UC Berkeley, majoring in Cell & Molecular Biology.
Kimberly Emi Ikuma Naguwa, from Honolulu, will be attending University of Puget Sound, completing her master's degree in Occupational Therapy.
Lauren Mahina Akemi Sato, a 2009 graduate from Palos Verdes High School, will be attending UC Irvine, majoring in Biology.
Doug Nobutoshi Sekimura, from Los Angeles, will be attending UCLA, working on his master's degree in Electrical Engineering, with emphasis in Signal Processing and Comnmunications.
Wendy Akemi Sekimura, from Piedmont, California, will be completing her undergraduate degree in English at Brown University.
Garrett Mitsuo Yamamoto, from Kailua, Hawaii, will be completing his doctorate in Physical Therapy at the University of North Dakota.
Established by the Yamada-Scott Family Foundation, the program honors the memory of the late Eiro Yamada, who was attending the University of Hawai'i when WWII erupted. Yamada went on to serve with distinction in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team in Europe and was subsequently transferred to serve with the Military Intelligence Service in the Pacific. After the war, he devoted his life to his family and to helping others.
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