June 2012 — Ninety undergraduate students from colleges and universities across the United States have been named recipients of Bridging Scholarships for Study Abroad in Japan.

The winners will receive awards of up to $4,000 to assist with their living expenses while they study in Japan during the Fall 2012 semester of the 2012 Japanese academic year. Since the program began in 1999, 1,250 scholarships have been awarded by the US-Japan Bridging Foundation to students studying abroad in Japan.

The Japan-US Friendship Commission, an independent federal agency promoting mutual understanding between the United States and Japan, in an effort to highlight public / private partnerships, initiated the Bridging Project scholarship program and established a 501(c)(3) private foundation, the US-Japan Bridging Foundation (www.bridgingfoundation.org), to accept contributions.

The goal of the Bridging Project is to promote study abroad in Japan by larger numbers of American undergraduate students. The scholarship program is administered by AATJ.

Contributors to the 2012 Bridging Scholarship fund include Aflac, Amway International, Bank of America-Merrill Lynch, Bloomberg LP, the Bridging Scholars Alumni Fund, Stephen and Sally Butters, Chartis Insurance, Citigroup Japan, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Estee Lauder, Exxon Mobil Y.K., the Freeman Foundation, Goldman Sachs Gives, Ichigo Asset Management, JP Morgan Japan, Lockheed Martin, Kathy Matsui, Mitsubishi International Corporation, Morgan Stanley Japan, Oak Lawn Marketing, ORIX USA, Thierry Porte, George Takei, Temple University-Japan Campus, the Terasaki Foundation, and Toyota Motor Corporation.

Bridging Scholars hail from a variety of schools–public and private, large universities and small colleges–in 32 states. Their majors range from computer science to fine art, but they share a common interest in Japan, its language, and its culture. Their destinations also vary, from giant campuses in Tokyo to intimate consortium programs in rural Japan. A list of the recipients, their home schools, their majors, and their destination programs can be found below.

For information on the US-Japan Bridging Foundation, visit www.bridgingfoundation.org.

Recipients of Bridging Scholarships for Study Abroad in Japan, Fall 2012

Kristi ADAMSKI / University of Pittsburgh (PA) / Konan University / Japanese
Noemi AGAGIANIAN / Haverford College (PA) / International Christian University / Psychology
   (JP Morgan Bridging Scholar)
Katherine AGUERO / Western Michigan University / Keio University / Accountancy and Asian Studies
Samuel ALLEN / Tufts University (MA) / Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies / International Relations & Japanese
Alise ARMOUR / City College of New York / Kwansei Gakuin (USAC) / International Studies
Phillip BACHMAN / Portland State University (OR) / Waseda University / Japanese
   (Bloomberg Bridging Scholar)
Van BARKER / Georgetown University (DC) / Keio University / International Politics
   (Bank of America – Merrill Lynch Bridging Scholar)
Evan BARNES / Temple University (PA) / Temple University, Japan Campus / Business Administration
   (Temple University – Japan Campus Bridging Scholar)
Alexander BAXA / St. John’s University (MN) / Bunkyo Gakuin / Chemistry (Pre-Med)
Sara BIRNBAUM / Ursinus College (PA) / Akita International University / East Asian Studies
Eliot BOHR / University of Maryland / Kwansei Gakuin / Physics
   (Lockheed Martin Bridging Scholar)
Matthew BOLA/ Florida State University / Hiroshima University / Japanese & Chinese
William BRECKENRIDGE / Gonzaga University (WA) / Akita International University / History
Alexander BREEDEN / University of Virginia / Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies / Japanese
Katherine BROWN / University of Colorado, Boulder / Sophia University / Biology
   (JP Morgan Bridging Scholar)
Iavana BURGOS / California State University, Long Beach / Waseda University / Comparative World Literature
   (Bank of America – Merrill Lynch Bridging Scholar)
Kaylana CASILLAS / Augsburg College (MN) / Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University / Accounting & Business Management
Xiong Pao CHENG / University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire / Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies / Biology
Sadie CORNFORTH / University of Minnesota / Hiroshima University / Global Studies
Loren COUSE / University of Massachusetts, Boston / Ritsumeikan University / Asian Studies
Kyle DEEN / Pennsylvania State University / Ibaraki University / Telecommunications
Natalie DMYTRENKO / St. Olaf College (MN) / Waseda University / Political Science
   (Bloomberg Bridging Scholar)
Charlie FIESELER / University of Kentucky / Osaka Gakuin (CET) / Physics
   (Lockheed Martin Bridging Scholar)
Tabitha FLEMING / University of Alaska, Fairbanks / Osaka Gakuin/ Anthropology
Amanda FRANKLYN / Missouri State University / Nanzan University (ISEP) / Japanese Studies
Calum GALT / University of Michigan / Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies / Women’s Studies
Lauren GATEWOOD / Dartmouth College (NH) / Kanda University of Foreign Studies /Japanese
Sheryline GODOY / Rollins College (FL) / Kansai Gaidai / Economics
Kimberly GUZMAN / Hobart & William Smith Colleges (MA) / Japan Center for Michigan Universities /Asian Languages
Jeffrey HADLEY / University of Massachusetts, Amherst / International Christian University / Japanese
   (JP Morgan Bridging Scholar)
David HAYS / University of Pennsylvania / Kyoto University / Economics & International Studies
   (Morgan Stanley Bridging Scholar)
Shannon HERBERT / Earlham College (IN) / Waseda University / Linguistics
   (Bank of America – Merrill Lynch Bridging Scholar)
Mykale-Jamal HOLLAND / University of Oklahoma / Shinshu University / Aerospace Engineering
   (Lockheed Martin Bridging Scholar)
Jasmine JOHNSON / Miami University of Ohio / Kansai Gaidai / Chemical Engineering
Michelle JOHNSON / Pacific Lutheran University (OR) / Sophia University (CIEE) / Music
   (Chartis Bridging Scholar)
Neil KAHLE / University of Nebraska / Senshu University / Sophia University / Computer Engineering
   (Lockheed Martin Bridging Scholar)
Emi KAMEMOTO / George Washington University (DC) / Nanzan University (IES) / International Affairs
   (Terasaki Bridging Scholar)
Patrick KEANE / University of Pittsburgh (PA) / Konan University / Computer Science & Philosophy
Sarah KELLIS / University of Pittsburgh (PA) / Ritsumeikan University / Japanese
Chelsea KRYSPIN / Clark University (MA) / Kansai Gaidai / Asian Studies
Chanel LABASAN / University of California, Berkeley / Meiji Gakuin / Psychology
   (Terasaki Bridging Scholar)
Zoe LATEJU / California State University, Los Angeles / Temple University, Japan Campus / Political Science
   (Temple University – Japan Campus Bridging Scholar)
Harry LEE / University of California, Berkeley / International Christian University / Social Welfare & Japanese
Sandy LEE / Wesleyan University (CT) / Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies /History
Martha LEVYTSKY / Sarah Lawrence College (NY) / Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies / Filmmaking
Kramer LINDSTROM / Austin College (TX) / Nanzan University (IES) / Computer Science (Oak Lawn Bridging Scholar)
Todd LONG / Kent State University (OH) / Rikkyo University / Accounting
   (Chartis Bridging Scholar)
Brittany LOZANO / Baylor University (TX) / Hosei University / Mathematics & Japanese
   (Chartis Bridging Scholar)
Michelle LUPISAN / California State University, Monterey Bay / J.F. Oberlin University / Japanese
(Bank of America – Merrill Lynch Bridging Scholar)
Michael MANANSALA / Colgate University (NY) / Kyoto University of Art & Design / Molecular Biology
E’Narda McCALISTER / Middle Tennessee State University / Kansai Gaidai / Music Theory
Ashlee McCARTY / Cape Cod Community College (MA) / Japan Center for Michigan Universities / Music
   (Oak Lawn Bridging Scholar)
Shannon McNAUGHT / University of Massachusetts, Amherst / International Christian University / Japanese
   (Bank of America – Merrill Lynch Bridging Scholar)
Lilian MEDFORD / Brandeis University / Osaka Gakuin (CET) / French
Patrick MEUER / Edgewood College (WI) / Toyo University (ISEP) / History
   (Bloomberg Bridging Scholar)
Kiyomi MOORE / Colorado College / Waseda University / Anthropology & Asian Studies
   (Terasaki Bridging Scholar)
Tiffany O’BARR / Arizona State University / Okayama University / Japanese
Matthew PEREZ / University of Florida / Kansai Gaidai / Political Science & Japanese
Erik PETERSON / University of Alaska, Anchorage / Hokkaido University of Education / Japanese & International Studies
   (Morgan Stanley Bridging Scholar)
Brian PHETMEUANGMAY / University of California, Irvine / International Christian University / Film & Japanese
   (Bloomberg Bridging Scholar)
Elizabeth POUJADE-SCOTT / Willamette University (OR) / Tokyo International University / Japanese Studies
Jason PRATT / University of Colorado, Denver / Kwansei Gakuin / International Studies
Logan RICHARDSON / Appalachian State University (NC) / Kansai Gaidai / Political Science
Mitchell SAMBRANO / University of Hawaii, Hilo / Tokyo Gakugei University / Japanese Studies
   (JP Morgan Bridging Scholar)
Sayaka SCHATZKE / University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point / Dokkyo University / Communication & International Studies
    (Terasaki Bridging Scholar)
Kyle SHINTAKU / California State University, Fullerton / Nanzan University / International Business
   (Terasaki Bridging Scholar)
Heather SOLAEQUI / New Mexico State University / Toyo University (ISEP) / International Business
   (Bridging Scholarship Alumni Fund)
Bree STOREY / Indiana University / Doshisha University / Folklore & Ethnomusicology
Larae STOTTS / Spokane Falls Community College (WA) / Kansai Gaidai / Journalism
Nicholas SUHAR / University of Florida / Aoyama Gakuin / Material Science & Engineering
   (Lockheed Martin Bridging Scholar)
Ryan SUTTON / University of Pittsburgh / Kobe University / History & Japanese
Nika TAMASHIRO / University of Rochester (NY) / Meiji Gakuin / Brain & Creative Science
   (Terasaki Bridging Scholar)
Gaoly THAO / Ball State University (IN) / Sapporo University / Creative Writing & Japanese
Maggie THORPE / University of Washington / Kyushu University / Journalism & Linguistics
Brant TICHKO / Clark University (MA) / Kansai Gaidai / History & Asian Studies
Amanda TOGLIATTI / Southern Illinois University / Nagoya University / International Trade
   (Oak Lawn Bridging Scholar)
Joshua TRAUB / University of Pennsylvania / International Christian University / Criminology
Phong TRUONG / St. John’s University (MN) / Bunkyo Gakuin / Biology (Pre-Med)
Kevin TSE/ Florida Atlantic University / University of Tokushima / Biology
Rachel VAN / University of Florida / Kansai Gaidai / Japanese
Whitney VAN WATERS / Georgia State University / Otemon University / Applied Linguistics & Asian Studies
Alice VINCENT / Miami University of Ohio / Toyo University (ISEP) / International Aid
   (Chartis Bridging Scholar)
Kelsey WALTON / University of Texas / Toyo University (ISEP) / Linguistics
   (JP Morgan Bridging Scholar)
Isaac WARD-FINEMAN / University of Oregon / Waseda University / Political Science
   (Bloomberg Bridging Scholar)
Erecia WARREN / University of North Texas / Chukyo University (ISEP) / Anthropology
   (Oak Lawn Bridging Scholar)
Molly WATANABE / Indiana University / Doshisha University / Japanese
   (Terasaki Bridging Scholar)
Benjamin WRIGHT / University of Illinois / Konan University / East Asian Languages
Grace YON / University of Montana / Kumamoto University / Creative Writing & Japanese
Alyssa YOUNG / Dickinson College (PA) / Nanzan University / East Asian studies
   (Oak Lawn Bridging Scholar)
Andrew ZOLL / University of Nevada, Reno / University of the Ryukyus / Anthropology & Psychology