The Japanese Community Association of Hawaii recently announced that Luke Hamano and Jillian Mitsuda were awarded scholarships of $1,500 each for the coming school year.
Hamano is the son of Paul and Reiko Hamano.
He recently graduated from Hilo High School and plans to attend the University of Hawaii at Hilo. While at Hilo High, Hamano was a member of the Key Club and the Vikings tennis team for four years. He is also a member of the Hilo Junior Tennis Club, where he first started to learn the sport and then became a teacher-coach to younger club members. His leadership, energy and positive coaching style are appreciated by his students, other coaches and parents alike.
Hamano plans to major in business administration and finance at UH-Hilo.
Mitsuda is the daughter of Jon and Melissa Mitsuda.
She graduated from Waiakea High School in 2019 as a valedictorian and is currently attending the University of Nevada at Reno. While at Waiakea High, Mitsuda had a GPA of 4.10 and maintains a 4.0 GPA at UNLV Reno. She was a member of the Key Club, golf team and the National Honor Society. She also served as class treasurer from 2016-19.
Mitsuda is majoring in speech pathology and her academic performance has earned her a spot on the dean’s list. She helps with UNLV Reno’s English Learning Center Conversion Partner Program, where she helps foreign exchange students practice English. Her trip to Japan in 2018 led her to volunteer at the learning center.
She plans to pursue a masters degree and eventually return to Hilo and serve the community through the state Department of Education.
The association congratulates both scholarship recipients.