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Six
outstanding high school seniors were honored at the annual
Florin JACL Scholarship Awards and New Members Welcome on
May 20 at the
Florin
Community
History
Center
. President
Karen Kurasaki
welcomed the group and introduced
Howard Shimada
, chairman of the Ice Cream Social, and
Andy Noguchi
who shared photos and highlights of the first Florin JACL
pilgrimage to Manzanar Internment Camp.
Ruth
Seo, chairperson of the scholarship committee which includes
Stan Umeda
, Aileen Nishio, and
Andy Noguchi
, introduced the following scholarship recipients who spoke
about their service projects, school and community
activities, and their future plans.
Miyako
Abe: The daughter of Ernest and Laura Abe, Miyako is a CSF
(California Scholarship Federation) member from grades 9-12
in the CK
McClatchy High School HISP Program.
She actively participated and held leadership
positions in the following clubs: Art, French, Japanese
Culture, Ecology, and Youth Congress.
She received the Best Freshman Award from the KEY
Club and the Kiwanis Hope of America Award.
She volunteered at UC Davis Medical Center in the
Trauma Nursing Unit and at
Fairytale
Town
helping with children’s events and programs.
Miyako is an accomplished dancer having studied
ballet and modern dance for 14 years.
She participated in the Florin JACL pilgrimage to
Manzanar Internment Camp in April.
She will be attending
San Francisco
State
University
majoring in International and Domestic Affairs.
Jasmine
Jane Cho: Jane is the
daughter of Greg and EunMi Cho.
This
Davis
High School
senior’s accomplishments and recognitions are extensive:
National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist, Outstanding
Youth in Focus Research Scholar Award, AP Scholar, President
of the USA Award for Educational Excellence, Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Award, and Speech Contest
Commendation. An
active member of the Florin JACL Youth group, Jane served as
chapter representative for the
Davis
community and was influential in getting a
Davis
elementary school named in honor of Fred T. Korematsu.
She contributed her talents in preparing and
presenting a slideshow showcasing the Florin JACL Youth
Project at the Installation Dinner and at the District
Council meeting. In
addition to her leadership, community service, and academic
achievements, Jane is a bilingual assistant and performer
with the Friends of Korea Han MaEum Dance Group and is a
violinist in the Premiere Orchestra of the Sacramento Youth
Symphony. Jane
is off to UC Berkeley on a Chancellor’s Scholarship
majoring in Ethnic Studies.
Michelle
M. Fong: Daughter of Debbie and Michael Fong, Michelle is a senior at
Sheldon
High School
. She is an
active KEY Club member where she served as Senior
representative and publicity chair/historian.
She is part of the Link Crew, National Honor Society,
CSF, Building Trades and Engineering Society. She ran the
100 yard dash for the track team.
An active member of the
Mayhew
Baptist
Church
, she assisted the leader of the youth group with many
activities. She
also helped with Boy Scout Eagle projects including the
painting of Nisei Hall and restoring benches at
Effie
Yeaw
Nature
Center
. Michelle
participated in the pilgrimage to Manzanar Internment Camp
with the
Florin
group in April. She
plans to major in Civil Engineering at UC Davis.
Brittany
Hori:
An honor roll student in CK McClatchy High School’s
HISP program, Brittany is active as a student government
board member, the Asian Student Union, and a CSF member from
2003-06. She
played on the school basketball team all four years serving
as Freshman and JV co-captain. She
also plays for the Barons basketball organization and was
selected Outstanding Player in 2005.
Her community service includes helping at the Asian
Nursing Home,
Asian
Community Center
, Jan Ken Po Gakko, and Sacramento Asian Sports Foundation.
A Girl Scout since 1995,
Brittany
’s active participation and leadership helped her earn the
highest rankings, the Silver and Gold Awards.
Her parents are Gail and Kevin Hori.
She will be attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo as a
Liberal Arts major.
Kevin
K. Okimura: Son of Jan and Mike Okimura, this well-rounded senior was
selected to represent
Granite
Bay
High School
at the California Boys’ State.
Among his many honors, he is listed in Who’s Who
Among American High School Students, a lifetime member of
CSF, winner of the Academic Merit Award, U.S. Achievement
Academy English Award, and Scholar Co-Curricular Award.
He served as president of the Future Business Leaders
of America, Captain and All-League Runner on the cross
country team, Science Bowl member, and a tutor in Math,
Science, and English. Active
at the
Florin
Buddhist
Church
since childhood, Kevin played church basketball from grades
2-12, helped at many church fundraisers, and served in
various leadership positions in the Young Buddhist
Association (YBA). He
has logged over 175 hours as a hospital volunteer.
His interests range from science and engineering, to
drama, Japanese language, photography, and culinary arts. He
will major in Chemistry at UC Berkeley.
Stephanie Ota
: Active
in sports for many years, Stephanie made the
J.F
Kennedy
High School
basketball team all four years, serving as team captain her
sophomore and senior years.
She was MVP her freshman year, league MVP sophomore
year, and Defensive Player of the Year her senior year.
She also plays in the Barons basketball league and
helps share her talent and expertise as a coach for younger
players in the Sacramento Asian Sports Foundation.
She is an honors student and member of CSF.
She also belongs to the Japanese American Culture
Club at JFK and is a member of the Sacramento Buddhist
Church Jr. YBA. Her
volunteer activities include helping at Shriner’s
Hospital, working with developmentally delayed teens, and
participating in the Walk for Breast Cancer and for My
Sister’s House,
Stephanie will attend Cal State University Sacramento
majoring in Business. Her
parents are Stan and Ardeana Ota.
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