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Event
Program
5:30
PM – Dinner Served
6:30
PM - Raffle & Bingo
Donors
We
would like to thank all of individuals that donated money to our worthy
cause so that we may continue to offer the scholarships.
Supporters
We
would like to thank you, our members and friends, for attending this
event year after year.
Volunteers
We
would like to thank everyone that was involved with organizing the
event, preparing the food and staffing the event.
Business
Advertisements
We
would like to thank all of the individuals and local businesses that
purchased advertisements in our printed program.
CW
31 / CBS 13
Stan
Eisner - Farmers Insurance
Ralph
Sugimoto - Tate, Propp, Beggs & Sugimoto
Shawn
Sage - Sage Pools
Derek
Seo - Seo & Associates
Bob
Chu - Satori Sushi & Teriyaki Grill
Kevin
Nakano - Nakano Realty
Bingo
& Raffle Prizes
We
would like to thank everyone that donated prizes for our bingo and
raffle.
Special
Thanks
Florin
Buddhist
Church
Ronald
McDonald House Charities
Florin
JACL
Scholarship Committee
2007 SCHOLARSHIP
RECIPIENTS
In
No Particular Order
Brandon
Miyasaki, son
of Laurie and Michael Miyasaki, juggles his time in the rigorous C.K.
McClatchy HISP (Humanities & International Studies
Program) as an honor roll scholar, athlete in basketball, soccer,
wrestling, and student government leader.
His volunteer involvement includes Key Club, Fairy Tale Town,
Sacramento Food Kitchen, algebra tutor for Sam Brannan Middle School
students, and cleaning stables for the People to People program.
In addition, he pursues his passion for judo which began at age
five and has continued to the present as a student, competitor,
volunteer instructor, and member of the national judo team.
He was selected as student ambassador to Japan in the People to
People program, serves as Japanese Club vice president, and works part
time at Trader Joe’s. Brandon
credits his grandmother, Marion Kanemoto, for teaching him. . .
“ the importance of acknowledging my Japanese American heritage
and the protection of our civil rights, including those of other
ethnicities and gender.”
Sondra
Morishima, daughter
of Sam and May Morishima, carries a 3.8 grade point in the CK McClatchy
HISP program while participating in a wide range of activities including
social and political issues, sports, arts, and volunteer work.
She participated in the McClatchy WorldQuest Competition and
furthered her interest in global issues by attending a National
Diplomacy program in Washington, D.C. She returned to her school and
founded the McClatchy Model United Nations club.
She is a highly decorated Air Force Junior ROTC officer, has her
Silver Award and is completing her Gold Award in the Girl Scouts.
She has actively participated in the Sacramento Bushido Kai (Shotokan
Karate), earning a green belt and teaching the Karate Kids class. Sondra
helps out at her father’s business, has worked at the Sacramento Music
Circus, and writes reviews of various theater productions.
Sondra’s most memorable JACL activity was the 2006 Manzanar
Pilgrimage. She writes,
“it was an incredible experience that gave me an entirely different
perspective on America, my own family history, and events taking place
in the nation today.”
Kiyumi
Nishida, daughter
of John and Ailene Nishida,
has
a long history in the Florin community, where she has been actively
involved in the Florin Buddhist Church and the Florin JACL.
Kiyumi experienced campus visits to UC Davis and UC Berkeley, and
has helped with annual Spaghetti Feed, food bazaars, and Installation
programs as a member of the Florin JACL youth group.
At Sheldon High School, Kiyumi won awards for being a scholar
athlete in volleyball and basketball.
She organized a fundraiser for her Vocal Ensemble group, and
chaired a school blood drive which collected over 300 pints of blood.
Her teacher, Mr. Cecil writes. ..
“It is an important lesson that students realize the importance
of giving back to the community and I believe that Kiyumi has imparted
this on her fellow students.” She
has been on the Renaissance list for four years, Outstanding Senior
award for the Biotech Academy, and Who’s Who Amongst American High
School Students. Kiyumi was
selected to attend the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine at UC
Berkeley, a step toward her goal as a pediatric cardiologist.
Annie
Noguchi, daughter
of Andy and Twila Tomita Noguchi, has been actively involved in the JACL
since birth. She has been
part of all the Florin JACL events,
coordinating several youth and educational activities such as
interactive workshops, trips to UC Davis and Berkeley, and the Manzanar
Pilgrimage. Annie spoke at
the Davis Board of Education meetings successfully advocating the naming
of a new elementary school in honor of Fred Korematsu. On the district
and national levels, she has interned at National JACL conventions,
attended National Youth conferences, and was awarded the NCWNP District
JACL’s Hikari Award for outstanding community youth involvement. A
Principal’s Honor Roll student during her entire high school career in
the CK McClatchy HISP program, Annie served as an officer in the
Japanese, Vietnamese, and German Culture Clubs.
She played on the school volleyball team, dances with the Sakura
Minyo Doo Koo Kai Japanese Traditional Dance group, lead dancer of the
Friends of Korea Han Ma Eum, and drummer in Koyasan Taiko.
She interned for assembly member, Dave Jones, and has been a
Nichi Bei Times columnist since 2001.
Lori Jablonski, Annie’s teacher writes. . .
“at the bottom of her involvement in school and community
affairs is her keen sense of compassion for the human condition---her
sense that we should all strive to ‘do the right thing’ and her
drive to make the world a better place.”
Benjamin
Staley, son
of Michael and Deborah Staley, will graduate from Sheldon High School
where he was vice captain of the varsity swim team and participated on
the wrestling team which won the Delta league championship. He also
received recognition for his involvement in the Engineering and Building
Trades Academy. Benjamin was
an active Key Club member all four years and served as Spirit
Commissioner and convention leader.
He belonged to the Asian Club, Pacific Islander Club, and the No
Limit Rhythm Club where he shared his talents as dance director.
Over the past 12-13 years, Benjamin has been very active in the
Han Ma Eum Korean Dance troupe which has performed extensively in the
Sacramento area and at the KAAN Conference in Seoul, Korea.
He shares his love of his Korean heritage by volunteering on
Sunday afternoons to teach drumming
and dancing to the younger kids in the program.
Christy Ann Wilson, president of the Friends of Korea
organization, praised Ben for his participation in a variety of heritage
festivals as a performer and for his helpfulness in transporting
equipment, setting up and clearing up after these events.
Ben has been an active member of the Florin JACL Youth group and
has helped over the years at the Women’s Day Forum, Spaghetti Bingo
Night, and participated at the UC Davis API Culture Night.
Elizabeth
Uno, daughter
of Richard and Irene Uno, ranks 13th
in a class of 460 in the J F Kennedy High School
PACE (Program in American and California Explorations) with a
grade point average of 3.9. She
has a life membership in the California Scholarship Federation and also
belongs to the National Honor Society in which she is currently
President. Beth is a
yearbook staff member, class secretary, cross country runner, Key Club
member, and Link Crew leader. She
volunteers extensively, helping as a Sunday School teacher at the
Sacramento Japanese United Methodist Church, assisting patients at the
Asian Community Nursing Home, participating in local toy and book
drives, and tutoring high school and elementary students.
She is an alumnus of the Jan Ken Po Gakko summer program and has
studied Japanese language at JFK for three years.
Beth has participated actively in the Florin JACL youth group
since 2001, attending conferences, college visitations, and helping with
various fundraisers and programs. She
made the pilgrimage to Manzanar Internment Camp with the Florin JACL
group in 2006, and observed that . . ,”the duty of my generation is to
share knowledge about the internment camps to ensure such an appalling
mistake is never repeated.”
PAST
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS UPDATE
In
No Particular Order
Kevin
Okimura (2006):
I
am now in my second year at UC Berkeley and enjoying it more than ever.
My major of Chemical Engineering is proving to be a very tough
pathway, but I am still enjoying it thoroughly.
A huge majority of my time during the school year is spent either
in class or studying. I'm
involved in many intramural sports including basketball and volleyball.
Also, I am an active member in the fraternity Tau Kappa Epsilon
which promotes morals and values that I hold close to my heart.
I'd like to thank the Florin JACL along with, of course, my
parents, Jan and Mike Okimura, for making my situation possible.
Erik
Nishida (2004):
I am currently in my senior year at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
majoring in aerospace engineering. It
has been a fun, yet stressful past three years leading up to now.
Over the past summer, I was fortunate enough to get an internship
with Oceanit in Kauai, HI. I
will admit that it was the best two months of work I have had in a long
time. Currently, I am
searching for potential jobs after I graduate in spring, hopefully for
NASA. I am also starting to
apply to universities because graduate school is a top priority after I
graduate from Embry-Riddle. I
would like to thank JACL once again for their contributions to my
education and I wish everyone the best of luck in the future.
Jennifer
Nishizaki (2005):
Currently, I am a Junior at UC Berkeley majoring in English and minoring
in Education. After I
graduate, I would like to attend graduate school or pursue a career in
education. Serving as a
writing tutor at the Cesar Chavez Student Learning Center is one of my
most rewarding activities that I am involved in at Cal. I tutor five
students every week, attend their lecture, and collaborate with their
professor. I am a mentor in
the YWCA Youth Mentor Program, and am also a Steering Committee Leader
for the organization. For
the past two summers I was an intern for Sacramento City Councilmember
Robbie Waters, working on community outreach and helping organize the
Pocket Fourth of July Parade. In
2007, I was awarded a National JACL scholarship, the Sacramento Asian
Pacific Chamber of Commerce Scholarship, and the California Japanese
American Alumni Association Scholarship.
Kevin
Nakano (1993):
I transferred to UC Santa Barbara and graduated with a degree in Film
& Asian American Studies. I
moved to Los Angeles to work in the independent film industry where I
worked on three films. I
left the film industry and moved back to Sacramento, earned a second
bachelor’s degree in Business with an Accountancy concentration (magna
cum laude), worked as an auditor for Ernst & Young LLP and I am now
starting my sixth year as a broker in the real estate industry.
I provide real estate, mortgage, property management and
commercial real estate loan services.
I hold the positions of member services, webmaster and
scholarship dinner co-chair for the Florin JACL.
I’m also the President of the Sac State Business Alumni Chapter
and Chair of the Ambassador program for the Sacramento Asian Chamber.
I currently reside in Elk Grove with my wife Connie and our two
pets: Pixie (Yorkie) and Smokey (bird).
In my spare time I enjoy mentoring college business students,
working out, watching movies and watching the UFC mixed martial arts
fights.
Florin
JACL Youth Activities on a Roll!
Where
do students go to learn about the Japanese American/Asian American
experience, history, culture, and issues?
Get involved in the Asian community and develop leadership
skills? Come together with other students for fun activities?
The Florin JACL!
Over
the last five years, we've visited college campuses, checked out
U.C.Davis & Berkeley Asian Pacific Culture events, and toured Asian
Theme Dorms. Organized
cultural workshops on making sushi and crafting origami.
Recruited and performed as extras in the Internment Camp film,
"Days of Independence." Road
tripped to San Francisco to hang out in J-Town, catch a camp art &
craft show, and pound mochi.
We've
served as delegates to the National JACL Student Conference in Salt Lake
City and interns at the National JACL Conventions in Honolulu and
Phoenix. Attended interfaith
gatherings to interchange with Muslim American students.
Helped at student interactive camp experience workshops at the
Time of Remembrance. Participated
in the Asian Pacific Youth Leadership Conference at the State Capitol.
Created a multi-media presentation on Florin JACL Youth activities.
Pitched in to work at the annual Spaghetti Dinner Bingo Night Fundraiser
for scholarship & youth programs.
Ten of us have even hopped an Amtrak train to Santa Clara for the
2007 National Youth Conference.
We've
even testified in successful support of naming a new Davis Elementary
school after the late Fred Korematsu who courageously challenged the
WWII internment all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
In April 2006 & 2007, we also organized a dozen member youth
contingent on the Florin JACL’s annual Pilgrimage to the Manzanar
Internment Camp. Those were great eye-opening 3-day inter-generational
pilgrimage experiences!
Today's
young people participate in varied school, sport, church, civic, and
other activities. However,
especially at the high school level, they have few opportunities to
raise their awareness of the Asian Pacific American experience, get
active in the community; and work together with other involved students.
The Florin JACL helps provide those opportunities.
Young people have sometimes been an overlooked, but critical part
of the Japanese / Asian American community – an invaluable upcoming
generation of high school, college, and young adult leaders.
Let’s not overlook them any longer!
The Florin JACL has a tremendous amount to offer.
It has decades of valuable expertise and contacts in civil
rights, history, Japanese /Asian American culture, public education,
networking, and community involvement.
Sounds like a perfect match for tomorrow's community leaders.
If
you know of interested students, please contact Andy Noguchi & Karen
Kurasaki, Florin JACL Youth Co-Advisors, at 978-6121, AndyNoguchi@sbcglobal.net
or kurasaki@comcast.net.
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