Rafu Shimpo
The Venice Japanese Community Center presented its 2024 scholarship awards at its annual Summer Festival on June 22.
These remarkable students were being honored for achieving stellar academic records, participating in extracurricular activities, and involving themselves in community service both at VJCC and the extended community.
The awards were presented by Bob Onishi, VJCC president.
The recipients, in alphabetical order, are:
Mason Beard, a graduate of Da Vinci Science High School, who will be attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. His parents are Kimberley and Matthew Beard.
Alexandra Brookes, a graduate of New Roads School, who plans to attend UCLA. She is the daughter of Jolyn Matsumuro and Sean Brookes.
Kanon Saito (Fahimian), a graduate of Culver City High School, who plans to attend UC San Diego. She is the daughter of Mutsumi Saitoh.
Sod-Erdene Gadal, a graduate of Venice High School, who will be attending UC Berkeley. His parents are Eric Gadal and Enkhtuya Sonompoel.
Diego Heard, a graduate of Santa Monica Preparatory, who plans to attend CSU Fullerton. His parents are Ana and Mike Heard.
Brandon Hirano, a graduate of Venice High School, who plans to attend UC San Diego. His parents are Michael and Cathy Hirano.
Haley Kaneshiro, a graduate of LACES (Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies), who plans to attend UCLA. Her parents are Landon and Joy Kaneshiro.
Hina Kurono, a graduate of Torrance High School, who plans to attend UC Davis. Her parents are Natsu and Yuji Kurono.
Luke Miura, a graduate of Culver City High School, who plans to attend West .L.A. College. His parents are Ramsey and Allison Miura.
Makena Parker, a graduate of Santa Monica High School, who plans to attend USC. She is the daughter of Wen-Chia and Andrew Parker.
Sofia Pezo, a graduate of Culver City High School, who will be attending the University of Chicago. Her parents are Ari Martinez and Omar Pezo.
Rentaro Suzuki, a graduate of Culver City High School, who plans to attend Santa Monica College. He is the son of Mayumi and Masuo Suzuki.
Jennifer Yamashita, a graduate of Venice High School, who will be attending UCLA. Her parents are Victoria and Roger Yamashita.
Kevin Yamashita, a graduate of Venice High School, who will be attending UC Berkeley. His parents are Mark and Celeste Yamashita.
Jack Yoshioka, a graduate of Culver City High School, who plans to attend Arizona State College. He is the son of Miles and Ayako Yoshioka.
Ryann Young, a graduate of Wildwood High School, who will be attending UC Santa Barbara. She is the daughter of Wendy and Patrick Young.
VJCC congratulates these scholars and sends them off to college with best wishes as they continue to explore their futures.
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The Rafu Shimpo is a bilingual Japanese-English language newspaper based in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California. Established in 1903, the Rafu Shimpo has survived two world wars, a depression, and the forced evacuation of our entire community. It is now the longest running Japanese American daily newspaper in the United States.
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