This year’s Sequoia JACL scholarship recipients are, from left, Lindsey Takahashi, Jocelyn Lombera, Calista Tee, Maddie Matsumoto and Brittney Kitaura. (Photo: Floyd Kumagai)
“I want to thank my parents for all their support,” said Brittney Kitaura as she received the High School Scholarship from La Donna Yumori-Kaku, co-president of Sequoia JACL during the chapter’s Scholarship Reception on May 8 at the Palo Alto Buddhist Temple’s Issei Hall. In all, five students were recognized for their strong academic and school/community achievements during the 2017-18 school year.
Kitaura and Maddie Matsumoto were awarded the $1,000 High School Scholarship, while Lindsey Takahashi received the $500 Harry & Elsie Yoshida Memorial Award, which is given to a student with extensive school and community participation. Dave Yoshida and Patricia Yotsuya presented the award in memory of their parents.
Kitaura graduated from Norte Dame Belmont High School and will attend the University of Oregon in the fall as an international studies major. Matsumoto graduated from Homestead High School and will attend the University of California, Davis, as a cinema and digital media major in the fall. Takahashi also graduated from Homestead High School and will attend San Diego State University as a kinesiology (prephysical therapy) major in the fall.
Sequoia JACL also awarded a $1,000 scholarship to a De Anza College and a Foothill College student for their extraordinary involvement and leadership.
In her acceptance speech, Jocelyn Lombera from Foothill College said, “I want to make my father proud. He works so hard to support us.” Lombera will be transferring to the University of California, Berkeley, in the fall as a sociology major. And May Kee Calista Tee also gave an emotional speech as she accepted the De Anza College Sequoia JACL scholarship. Tee will transfer to the University of California, Davis, as an economics major in the fall.
