JASC 2023 Scholarship Recipients

Congratulations to this year’s five scholarship recipients!

The generosity of many families and individuals over the years enables the JASC to annually award scholarships to students pursuing higher education both at the graduate and undergraduate level. It is inspiring to hear and celebrate the community service and dedicated learning of these young adults.

This year’s John Iwaoka Scholars are:

Meilin Hoshino – She graduated from Whitney Young High School in Chicago and will be attending Grinnell College in Iowa. Meilin plans to study Anthropology. She was a frequent volunteer for programs at the JASC and often recruited her friends to come along and volunteer too.

Kimiko Darcy  – She graduated from Latin School of Chicago and will be attending Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Kimiko plans to study Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology. She is a certified instructor from the Ohara School of Ikebana and shared her talents at JASC’s Holiday Delight and Ikebana workshops. She is an accomplished classical pianist performing at many venues and attending classes.

This year’s Taketo (Tak) Tomiyama Scholars are:

Asami Iba – She is a graduate student at University of Illinois Chicago working on a Master of Science in Nursing. Asami worked at the JASC and other local organizations on the Grassroots Exchange Network Japan program from 2018 – 2020 by Japan Foundation. She has a strong passion for community service.

Elijah Nishimura – He graduated from Glenbard South High School in Glen Ellyn. Eli will be attending DePaul University to study Animation in the fall. He is an athlete, musician, and a scholar participating in wrestling, baseball, marching band, National Honor Society, and several more clubs and leadership positions as well as volunteer work.

This year’s Dr. Newton K. Wesley Scholar is:

Katrina Chiong – She is a junior at Northwestern University. Katrina is studying Manufacturing and Design Engineering. She has volunteered at JASC for years with the Adult Day Services and is an accomplished dancer in several dance related organizations at Northwestern and in Chicago.

Their accomplishments were celebrated at an award ceremony on June 26. The evening’s program can be viewed by clicking here.