The chapter presents its Scholarship, Pioneer and Youth Leadership awards.
By Berkeley JACL
The Berkeley JACL chapter awarded scholarships to six entering freshman students, honored its Pioneer award recipient and recognized its Youth Leadership recipient during its awards event held on May 3 at the Richmond Country Club in Richmond, Calif.
Berkeley JACL chapter honorees are (seated, from left) Keith Yasumura, Tai Tachibana, Hayley Takeshima and (standing, from left) Neal Taniguchi, Tim Takeda, Kieran Taylor, Takumi Lee and Charlotte Sandford. (Photo: Eric Kawamura)
Scholarships were awarded to six high school seniors in recognition of their academic achievements, community involvement, school activities, work history, JACL involvement, written essay, letter of recommendation and group interview. Following are this year’s recipients:
- Takumi Lee (Skyline High School, Oakland) will attend the University of California, San Diego, as a biology major. Lee received the Berkeley Scholarship Committee scholarship.
- Charlotte Sandford (Head Royce School, Oakland) will attend Colgate University and major in Asian Studies. Sandford received the Terry Yamashita memorial scholarship.
- Tai Tachibana (Berkeley High School, Berkeley) will attend the University of Washington and major in international studies. Tachibana is the first recipient of the Kagawa Family memorial scholarship.
- Hayley Takeshima (Acalanes High School, Lafayette) will attend California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, as an electrical engineering major. Takeshima received the Dan/Kathleen Date memorial scholarship.
- Kieran Taylor (Berkeley High School, Berkeley) will attend Berkeley City College and major in computer science. Taylor received the George/Yoshimi Nakamura memorial scholarship.
- Keith Yasumura (Tilden Preparatory School, Walnut Creek) will attend the University of California, Berkeley, and major in applied math. Yasumura received the Bea Kono Memorial scholarship.
Neal Taniguchi was presented with the chapter’s Pioneer Award. This award recognizes leaders who have served the community and the Berkeley JACL with dedication and vision. Born and raised in Fresno, Calif., Taniguchi earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in public policy from UC Berkeley. He then worked in various positions for the City of San Francisco, San Mateo Superior Court and recently retired as CEO of the San Mateo Superior Court. Taniguchi also served as the past NCWNP District Council governor and National JACL vp of general operations. He currently serves as a member of the board of trustees for the Berkeley chapter and oversees the chapter’s Issei and scholarship funds.
Tim Takeda received the chapter’s Youth Leadership Award. This award recognizes youth leaders with the desire, vision and skills to make a positive difference in the community consistent with the chapter’s mission. Born and raised in Bristol, Vt., Takeda’s family recently moved to the Bay Area, where he is a student at Chabot Community College in Hayward, Calif. Under his leadership, in May 2024, Takeda established the first Japanese American organization at the community college — the Chabot College Nikkei Student. As NSU president, he organized the college’s first Day of Remembrance commemoration. Takeda exemplifies the growing need for youth leaders to make a positive difference consistent with the chapter’s mission.
Members of the scholarship committee are Ron Tanaka (chair), Jennifer Doi, Mark Fujikawa, Vera Kawamura, Ryan Matsuda, Neal Ouye and Joe Takano.
