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The Japanese American Veterans Association is excited to announce its annual Memorial Scholarship Program for 2024.   The scholarships will benefit a range of graduating high school seniors, undergraduate students, and post-graduate and professional education students. 

The scholarships include The U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye Memorial Scholarship ($3,000) honoring the late U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye’s iconic career of military and civilian public service;  the Ishio Founder’s Scholarship ($3,000), awarded in memory of JAVA’s founder, Colonel Sunao Phil Ishio, U.S. Army,  his wife Constance and their son Douglas Ishio; the Kiyoko Tsuboi Taubkin Legacy Scholarship ($2,000),  a tribute to Ms. Kiyoko Tsuboi Taubkin, a longtime supporter of JAVA; as well as JAVA Memorial Scholarships ($1,500), honoring Nisei veterans, JAVA members and/or their family members. The 2024 JAVA Memorial Scholarships are:

·         Dr. Americo Bugliani Scholarship, in honor of his liberator, Paul Sakamoto, 100th Infantry Battalion/442nd RCT veteran.

·         Furumoto Family Scholarship, in honor of Korean War Veteran, Hiroshi Hamai.

·         Ranger Grant Hirabayashi Scholarship, in honor of Ranger Grant Jiro Hirabayashi, MIS.

·         Izuno Family Scholarship, in honor of JAVA member and Korean War veteran, Dr. Takumi Izuno who served in the U.S. Army 511^th Military Intelligence Service.   

·         Colonel Jimmie Kanaya Scholarship, in honor of Colonel Jimmie Kanaya, U.S. Army, a three-war veteran – WW II, Korean and Vietnam. 

·         Mitsugi Kasai Scholarship, in honor of CWO 4 Mitsugi Murakami Kasai, MIS veteran.

·         Sadami Katahara Scholarship in honor of Sadami Katahara, 100^th Bn veteran, and CAPT (USAR)

·         Ben Kuroki Scholarship, in honor of Sergeant Ben Kuroki, a gunner in the US Army Air Corps, 505th Bombardment Group.

·         Matsui Scholarship, in honor of Victor Matsui, MIS veteran, and his wife Teru Matsui.

·         COL Virgil R. Miller Scholarship, in honor of Colonel Virgil R. Miller, Commander of the 442nd, who led the Nisei soldiers in their rescue of the Texas "Lost Battalion" in the Vosges Mountains of France during WWII.

·         Robert Nakamoto Scholarship, in honor of past JAVA President and Korean War veteran, Bob Nakamoto.

·         Shirey Scholarship, in honor of Major Orville Shirey, 442^nd veteran and wife Maud Shirey.

Who may apply for a JAVA Memorial Scholarship?

Descendants of those who served in the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the Military Intelligence Service, the 1399th Engineer Construction Battalion, and the 522nd Field Artillery Battalion; and descendants of Japanese American soldiers who served during World War II in other United States military units to include the Women’s Army Corps or Army Nurses Corps are eligible to apply for a JAVA Scholarship.

Current members of JAVA whose membership began prior to April 1, 2022, are eligible to apply.  Children of current JAVA members are also eligible to apply if the applicant’s parent or guardian was a member of JAVA prior to April 1, 2022.  Note: if you are uncertain about your membership status, please contact administrator javapotomac@gmail.com

In addition, past or present members of the Army’s 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Reserves are eligible and encouraged to apply for the Senator Daniel K. Inouye Memorial Scholarship. Also eligible are individuals enrolled in a college or university ROTC or U.S. Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Course.  Applicants should demonstrate their lifelong commitment to public and uniformed service leadership for the nation.

How to apply for a JAVA Scholarship

Applicants should first review published rules and forms.  Applications and supporting documents must be electronically submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, April 30, 2024.  Applications are available online.  Supporting documents should be sent to javascholarship222@gmail.com  with either “2024 Inouye Memorial Scholarship,” “2024 Ishio Founder's Memorial Scholarship,”  "2024 Kiyoko Tsuboi Taubkin Legacy Scholarship," or “2024 JAVA Memorial Scholarship” and the applicant’s name in the subject line.  Applications not received by that date or that fail to meet the submission requirements will NOT be considered. Applicants will be notified of a decision in early June 2024.  Awards will be presented at a JAVA scholarship awards virtual ceremony on Saturday, July 27,  2024. 

2024 JAVA Memorial Scholarship Program Overview here.

2024 US Senator Daniel K. Inouye Memorial Scholarship here.

2024 JAVA Ishio Founder's Scholarship here.

2024 Kiyoko Tsuboi Taubkin Legacy Scholarship here.

2024 JAVA Memorial Scholarships here.

Questions about the 2024 JAVA Memorial Scholarship program can be directed to javapotomac@gmail.com or javascholarship222@gmail.com

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Learn about the Legacy

To learn more about some of the the amazing individuals JAVA scholarships honor, click on the named scholarships listed below.

Dr.  Americo Bugliani Scholarship

Furumoto Family Scholarship

Ranger Grant Hirabayashi Scholarship

Inouye Memorial Scholarship

Ishio Founder's Scholarship

Izuno Family Scholarship

Colonel Jimmie Kanaya Scholarship

Mitsugi Kasai Scholarship

Sadami Katahara Scholoarship

Ben Kuroki Scholarship

Matsui Scholarship

Colonel Virgil R. Miller Scholarship

Robert Nakamoto Scholarship

Shirey Scholarship

Kiyoko Tsuboi Taubkin Legacy Scholarship