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CALIFORNIA JAPANESE AMERICAN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

 

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

The California Japanese American Alumni Association (CJAAA) is offering between 5 to 15 scholarships of $1000 to $3000. Applicants must be undergraduate or graduate students of Japanese-American ancestry with either continuing or returning enrollment at any of the nine campuses of the University of California. Any major or field of study is acceptable.

 

AWARD CRITERIA

In order of importance, applicants will be judged on academic excellence, commitment to community and social concerns, and personal attributes. Financial need will also be considered for those who submit financial aid forms. There is no minimum grade point average required to apply, but a GPA of at least 3.0 is strongly recommended. Given the mission of CJAAA, applicants are expected to have participated in community service. Examples of community service include volunteering for JACL, Red Cross, or local church/temple; participants in Japanese American student organizations who teach children to read, clean up the bay or feed the homeless; and fraternity/sorority members involved in philanthropic activities. Applicants without community service experience must demonstrate a commitment to do so in the future. Those who begin their volunteer work immediately will illustrate such a commitment.

 

AWARD TYPES

  • The "Mo" Noguchi Memorial Award will be given to CJAAA’s top scholarship candidate along with a maximum potential of $3000. The award is named after Moriaki Noguchi, a founding member and long-time president of CJAAA. His work is largely responsible for the existence of the scholarship program and thus this award is in his memory.
  • The George Kondo Memorial Award will be given to the candidate judged to have the best community service record. This award is given in memory of its namesake who served the Japanese American community with tireless devotion.
  • The Yori Wada Memorial Award will be given to the candidate with the best record of public service, in memory of the dedicated public service of Mr. Wada. The Kondo and Wada Awards are only given in years’ where we have an appropriate candidate.
  • To encourage young Japanese-Americans to study abroad, CJAAA additionally offers an annual scholarship between $2,500 to 5,000 to a student accepted to the University of California Education Abroad Program in Japan and having a minimum GPA of 3.5. Applicants should inquire at their local campus for more information about the Education Abroad Program.

 

HISTORY

Initial funding for the scholarship program came from a trust fund following the 1972 sale of the Japanese Mens’ Students Club dormitory, also known as Euclid Hall after World War II. Built by pioneering Issei and Nisei, the dorm was located near the UC Berkeley campus to meet the desperate housing needs of Nisei students battling harsh discriminatory practices. These pioneers wanted to build an educational foundation for the next generation and as the key to their bootstrap efforts to improve their families’ status and enable their children to earn a place in society worthy of their character and abilities. In keeping with this tradition, the CJAAA Scholarship Program was created to promote higher education among future generations of Japanese-Americans and helps ensure that they enjoy the fruits of their endeavors. The expansion of the scholarship program in recent years is a reflection of the continuing efforts to build upon our forefathers’ goals and also promote involvement in community service, whether assisting Japanese American activities, volunteering at a hospital, or conserving the environment, etc.

 

LIMITATIONS

Previous applicants may reapply, however, anyone who has received a prior CJAAA award of $1000 or more is ineligible.

 

HOW TO APPLY

  • If you are eligible, please download an application form from the CJAAA website at www.cjaaa.org. To receive the application by e-mail, contact Scholarship Chair Katherine Yoshii at scholarships@cjaaa.org.
  • Complete all sections of the application form and follow the directions carefully. Please type. You may use extra pages if necessary, but please use the form whenever possible.
  • Tips: Proofread your application and essay for typographical and grammatical errors. Have someone else review your essay and make revisions based on their feedback. Emphasize your community activities.
  • Annual DEADLINE is April 15. Applications must be postmarked no later than this date. The deadline is firm.
  • Selection is by a CJAAA volunteer scholarship committee of at least five members. Notification will occur sometime between June and August.