San Francisco, CA - The Japan Exchange & Teaching Program Alumni Association of Northern California & Nevada (JETAANC) is pleased to announce Lynne Reina Ozawa, a senior at Castro Valley High School in Castro Valley, CA, as the recipient of the 2024 JETAANC Scholarship. $2,500 will be awarded to Lynne in support of her collegiate pursuits. We are also pleased to announce Rachel Zhou, a senior at Amador Valley High School in Pleasanton, CA, as the recipient of the Honorable Mention Award. $1000 will be awarded to Rachel in support of her collegiate pursuits.
Now in its 21st year, the JETAANC Scholarship honors one high school senior who has demonstrated genuine interest in Japan with an academic scholarship of up to $2,500. Due to the overwhelming generosity of our donors and the number of outstanding applicants this year, we also created a $1000 honorable mention scholarship. Recipients are selected based on their demonstrated interest in Japan, academic accomplishments and interests, volunteer and leadership experience at school or in their local community, and recommendations.
Now, to introduce this year’s winners!
Lynne Reina Ozawa is a talented student at Castro Valley High School. She has earned a Silver Level Achievement in US figure skating, was honored for her piano playing prowess by the Music Teachers Association of California, and is a 1-kyu rank sorobanist or Japanese abacus user. Beyond her 11 years of dedicated Japanese language study, Lynne has won awards for writing Japanese poetry and was an ambassador for a program encouraging more young Japanese women to pursue STEM studies. Lynne plans to attend the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in Applied Mathematics. In response to the good news, Lynne said, “Receiving this scholarship will allow me to stay involved in the Japanese community during college. I hope to utilize my Japanese and English skills to help others, especially in education.”
Rachel Zhou is an enthusiastic and inquisitive Amador Valley High School student serving as the Speech and Debate Club President. In addition to coaching her team to a first-time-in-school history trip to the National Speech and Debate Tournament, Rachel is quite civically engaged. She volunteered with the Girls State Alumni Foundation and supported a local political campaign as an intern. Rachel plans to attend the University of California, Berkeley, and double major in Economics and Political Science, focusing on International Relations, with a minor in Data Science. In response to the good news, Rachel said, “I'm using the scholarship to further my goal of researching US-China-Japan relations abroad. Thank you, JETAANC!”
The JET Alumni Association of Northern California & Nevada serves as a support network and resource for returning JET Program participants in their transition to the Northern California and Nevada area, and also provides assistance in the recruitment and orientation of new participants of the JET Program for the Consulate General of Japan, San Francisco. Furthermore, the organization works to promote and support a deep understanding of Japanese culture by organizing and participating in Japan-related events.
As an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, JETAANC is one of the largest and most active JET alumni chapters in the world. In 2002, the organization established a university scholarship award for graduating high school seniors headed to an accredited college or university, and presented the award to its first recipient in 2003. The JETAANC scholarship is open to students within JETAANC’s geographic area, namely Nevada and the 48 northernmost California counties.
JETAANC’s scholarship program relies solely on donations, and the organization is committed to continuing to offer this opportunity to students in Northern California and Nevada who share a passion for Japan and a commitment to their communities.
If you would like to support the JETAANC Scholarship and help fund future recipients, please consider making a donation to JETAANC through Paypal (@jetaanc), by check (mail to: JETAANC, PO Box 2873, San Francisco, CA 94126), or consider setting up a donation match with your employer.
Your donation will directly impact the education and future of deserving students and further strengthen the US-Japan relationship.
To learn more about JETAANC and the scholarship, please visit jetaanc.org/scholarship.
コメント