The Hilo-based Japanese Community Association of Hawaii recently honored its two $1,500 scholarship recipients at the biennial Kodomo No Matsuri Children’s Day festival.
The Hilo-based Japanese Community Association of Hawaii recently honored its two $1,500 scholarship recipients at the biennial Kodomo No Matsuri Children’s Day festival.
“The committee has selected two outstanding and deserving students, Jennifer Taniguchi and Mayuko Yoshida,” said Janet Fujioka, chairwoman of the scholarship committee.
Taniguchi is a student at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., and has been on the dean’s honor roll in academics and social responsibility. She has been immersed in the Japanese culture her entire life. She graduated from Hilo Hongwanji Japanese Language School, studied Japanese for three years at Waiakea High School and is enrolled in an advanced Japanese class at Creighton.
Taniguchi is pursuing a business degree with a focus on international business in Japan. Her parents are Arthur and Barbara Taniguchi of Hilo.
Yoshida will be graduating from Hilo High School in May. She is an outstanding student in academics and is involved in many extracurricular activities, including serving as student association treasurer, DECA historian and Math League secretary. She’s also on the tennis and swim teams and a member of the band.
Yoshida will be attending Keio University in Japan. Her parents are Reiko Yoshida Hamano and Paul Hamano.
Three students at the University of Hawaii at Hilo — Runa Ikeno, Keith Nerida and Fred Visaya Jr. — each received $1,000 scholarship stipends.
The Japanese Community Association of Hawaii is a nonprofit organization with a membership of 400 families whose mission is to perpetuate and promote the Japanese culture and to foster international relationships with cities in Japan.
For more information, call JCAH at 969-6437 or email jcahawaii@yahoo.com.