Scholarship Chair Roger Fujii (center) is pictured with this year’s awardees (from left) Drew Watanabe, Kianna Nakaoka, Mitchell Maseba and Leo Muraoka. (Not pictured is Nicholas Lee.) (Photo: Sacramento JACL Chapter)
The chapter presents awards to five area students for their outstanding achievements.
The Sacramento JACL chapter held a scholarship awards luau at Nisei Hall in Sacramento on June 9. The festivities began with a hula dance performed by Robbie Yee, followed by the presentation of several scholarships to five outstanding and deserving high school graduates. This year’s scholarships totaled $17,500.
Following are the 2024 award recipients:
- Nicholas Lee from John F. Kennedy High School in Sacramento is the recipient of the Sacramento Nisei VFW Post 8985 Memorial Scholarship. This fall, Lee will be attending California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, as a business administration major with a focus on financial management and marketing. He aims to pursue a career in the sports business industry. His high school activities included serving as captain of the swimming and water polo teams. In addition, he is an Eagle Scout.
- Mitchell Maseba from Laguna Creek High School in Elk Grove is the recipient of the Kiyoto and Rika Kawakami Memorial Scholarship and the Sacramento JACL Scholarship. Maseba plans to attend the University of California, Davis, in the fall, majoring in biochemical engineering. His community activities centered around the Buddhist Church of Sacramento, being active in the Young Buddhist Assn., basketball and Dharma School.
- Leo Muraoka from Rio Americano High School in Sacramento is the recipient of the Ralph and Pearl Sugimoto Scholarship. Athletics has been a primary focus for Muraoka, and he is excited to pursue a degree in sports business at the University of Oklahoma in the Price School of Business.
- Kianna Nakaoka from John F. Kennedy High School in Sacramento is the recipient of the Masao and Sumako Itano Memorial Scholarship. She will be attending the University of California, Berkeley, in the fall, majoring in chemistry. After college, Nakaoka plans on a career in medicine, with plans to become a surgeon. She is an avid scout, having attained an Eagle rank with the Boy Scouts and earning a Gold Award with the Girl Scouts. She also enjoys power lifting, where she holds four world records and six world titles.
- Drew Watanabe from John F. Kennedy High School in Sacramento is the recipient of the Matsui Memorial Scholarship. Watanabe will be attending the University of California, Berkeley, in the fall, majoring in mechanical engineering. Watanabe’s interests include exploring robotics, performing with the Sacramento Taiko Dan Youth Ensemble and volunteering at the Sacramento Asian Sports Foundation and the Museum of Science and Curiosity. He is also a member of the Sacramento Buddhist Church, attends Dharma School, participates in church activities and sports and serves as president of the Junior Young Buddhist Assn.
The Scholarship Committee was comprised of Roger Fujii (chair), Debbie Eto, Kathy Imura-Delmendo, Hannah Pierce and John Yoshikawa.
