The Florin JACL chapter announced its 2025 scholarship awards during its annual Ice Cream Social on May 18. This year’s recipients hailed from Sacramento-area high schools and California State University, Sacramento, and were judged on achievements in JACL involvements, academic and scholastic honors, extracurricular activities, community service, work history and Japanese cultural activities.
Following are this year’s winners:
JUSTIN HITE is a recent graduate from California State University, Sacramento. He will be pursuing a master’s and eventual doctorate at San Diego State University, with the hopes of attaining professorship in the English department. He has been a student assistant at the CSUS Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Center, researcher at the CSUS Center on Race, Immigration & Social Justice and a public relations manager for the Hmong University Student Assn. He is the inaugural recipient of the CSUS/Ayad Al- Qazzaz Outreach Scholarship Endowment. Hite also has a record of reaching out beyond the Japanese American community and works to bring diverse communities together. He attended the 2024 and 2025 Florin-Manzanar pilgrimages, where he learned about Israel-Palestine conflict and the far-reaching impacts of the JACL. Within his interview, the Florin chapter’s 2025 Scholarship Selection committee was inspired by his zeal for doing what is right and helping others.
MADISON LEE is a graduate of West Campus High School. She plans to attend the University of California, Irvine, this fall as a biology major. She is actively involved in her community and school, holding leadership roles such as vp of the Asian American Association Club and secretary of the California Scholarship Federation. Lee has also volunteered extensively for organizations such as the JACL, Saint John’s Shelter Program and West Sac Kids Give Back. Through JACL, she had the unique opportunity to participate in the grand opening of the “Uprooted” exhibit at the California Museum. Inspired by the exhibit, she began collecting historical data from her grandparents. Lee’s dedication to preserving her Japanese heritage and fostering community connections is evident through her volunteer work and leadership roles.
MANA NOZUE is a graduate of Davis
Senior High School, where she was involved in the Japanese Culture Club, Greenpeace Club, California Scholarship Federation, National Honor Society, two years on the Diving and the Water Polo teams serving as captain and a lifeguard aide. She plans to attend the University of California, Santa Barbara, as a marine biology major. She has participated in the Kansha History Project, reaching out to the community with information about the Nikkei farm history. Nozue believes that education is key and has been instrumental in educating people outside of the JA community regarding the internment experience during World War II by informing, connecting and sharing cultures. In so doing, it has helped her learn more about herself, as well as others. In a short period of time, Nozue has become active in the Florin JACL as a Manzanar Ambassador, member of the planning committee for the annual Manzanar Pilgrimage and numerous other Florin
JACL events.
AKIRA RANSIBRAHMANAKUL is a graduate of Folsom High School and plans on attending California State University, Fresno, as a computer science major. He has volunteered for Florin JACL events since the age of 13, including events at the California Museum. Ransibrahmanakul believes in the power of community, honoring the values of respect and resilience and the importance of intergenerational collaboration. He has been active in a number of clubs in high school, including Stock Market Club, Water Shed Club, International Film Club and Folsom High Golf Team. He grew up attending a Japanese International School at CSUS, where he learned kanji, calligraphy, Japanese history and traditional arts. In addition, he is fluent in reading, writing and speaking Japanese and has spent several summers as an exchange student in Japan.
ROBBIE UNO is a graduate of River City High School in West Sacramento where he maintained a 4.0 GPA over his four years while providing leadership roles on his track and field teams and in the music programs. His musical talents were evident as he played in the marching band, wind ensemble, honor band and the high school Golden State Band and Rising Musicians, and he was recognized as Rookie of the Year and recipient of the Director’s Award. In addition to music and sports, Uno participated in the Interact Club and Link Crew. He also attended Jan Ken Po Gakko Japanese cultural program from grades 2-6, participated in the Parkview Presbyterian Church youth group and helped Florin JACL with the Mochi Madness,
Scholarship Hot Dog event and Ice Cream Social. He plans to major in aerospace engineering in college.
NATHAN YAMAMOTO is a graduate of DaVinci Charter Academy in Davis, where he maintained a 4.0 GPA. He has been awarded several literary and photo essay honors and is team captain and helps to coach the varsity tennis team.
He is also involved with his church and enjoys working in its Japanese garden, while also being involved in community history projects and efforts to fund local libraries. Recently, he has been interested in Japanese films and the
cultural differences between Japan and the United States. Although Yamamoto is
new to Florin JACL, he looks forward to volunteering and getting more involved in its activities. He plans to major in history in college.
