Bridging Scholarships Fall 2023 Recipients

JULY 2023 – Fifty-four 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 ranging from $2,500 to $4,500 to assist with their expenses while they study in Japan for a semester or an academic year beginning in Fall 2023. Since 1999, more than two thousand scholarships have been awarded by the US-Japan Bridging Foundation (www.bridgingfoundation.org).

Recipients of Bridging Scholarships for Study Abroad in Japan, Fall 2023 and Academic Year 2023-2024 

Austin ALCANCIA / Oberlin College / Doshisha University / East Asian studies; music performance; computer science
Maxwell BACHMANN / Willamette University / Tokyo International University / Japanese studies; studio art
Kassidy BROWN / Georgia State University / Osaka University / film & media; sociology
Angel BRYANT / Howard University / Osaka Gakuin (CET) / international affairs
Phoebe BUGGY / University of Toledo / Rikkyo University / political science
Lucy BURNHAM / University of Nevada, Reno / Rikkyo University Kwansei Gakuin (USAC) / molecular microbiology; immunology
Nico CANO-KATSUNUMA / University of Kansas / Sophia University / anthropology
Benjamin CHAU / Thomas Jefferson University (PA) / Temple University, Japan Campus / international business
Brandon CLASSEY / University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee / Nanzan University / global communications; Japanese
Nathaniel CORBIN / University of Memphis / Seikei University / world languages
Sunsariay COX / Portland State University / Kansai Gaidai University / Japanese
Isaiah CRAWFORD / Northwest Missouri State University/ Toyo University / international business
Liana DAVIS / University of Missouri, St. Louis / Kansai University / Japanese
Ren DE DIOS / Linfield College (OR) / Doshisha University / Japanese
Sarai DERAS / University of North Georgia / Nanzan University / East Asian studies
Kate DOTY / University of Denver / Akita International University / psychology; Japanese
Claire EDMONDS / Smith College / Associate Kyoto Program / East Asian languages & cultures
Kiyanna EDWARDS-POLK / Temple University (PA) / Temple University, Japan Campus / psychology
Mariah ENCINAS / University of California, Irvine / International Christian University / education
Elise FASHIMPAUR / Willamette University / Tokyo International University / data science; psychology; Japanese
Nadav GERBER / Suffolk University (MA) / Kansai Gaidai University / global cultural studies
Ella GOULD / Ohio State University / Waseda University / international relations & diplomacy; Japanese
Gloria GUO / University of Southern California / Waseda University / international business
Michael HARRIS / University of Central Florida / Meiji Gakuin University / social science
Dylan JOACHIM / Washington & Jefferson College (PA) / Akita University / gender studies; communications
Emily JONES / West Chester University of Pennsylvania / Hosei University / anthropology
Caitlin JOSEPH / Bryn Mawr College (PA) / Temple University, Japan Campus / international studies
Jake KELLEY / Tulsa Community College (OK) / Temple University, Japan Campus / international affairs; Japanese
Leila KNIGHT / Temple University (PA) / Temple University, Japan Campus / film & media arts
Jack KURLINSKI / University of Denver / Waseda University / molecular biology; Japanese
Jenna LINDSEY / Johnson County Community College (KS) / J.F. Oberlin University / graphic design
Anayla McCLENDON / Spelman College / Tsuda University / English
Elizabeth MIKEWORTH / Western Kentucky University / Kansai Gaidai University / international affairs; law; Chinese
Khoa NGUYEN / California State University, Fullerton / Okayama University / Japanese
Melanie ODEN / Grinnell College (IA) / Waseda University / sociology; Japanese
Leslie ORTIZ / University of Rhode Island / Okayama University / computer science; art; Japanese
Genevieve RICE / University of Michigan / Japan Center for Michigan Universities / Asian studies
Evan ROBERTSON / Mississippi State University / Akita International University / software engineering
Naomi SANCHEZ-NAVA / University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point / Dokkyo University / international studies
Amalia SANTOS / University of Florida / Kansai Gaidai University / Japanese
Benjamin SCHNEIDER / Carleton College (MN) / Associated Kyoto Program / chemistry
Madeleine SHARP / Miami University Ohio / Kansai Gaidai University / communication design; Japanese
Noé SHAW / Babson College (MA) / Waseda University / business administration
Torrence SMITH / University of Toledo (OH) / Rikkyo University / university studies
Clarissa SPITZLEY / University of Tennessee, Martin / Hiroshima Jogakuin University / mass media & communication
William TAUBER / University of Cincinnati / Nanzan University / psychology; Asan studies
Christian THOMAS / Hendrix University (AK) / Kwansei Gakuin University / philosophy; physics
Matthew TRANI / Hofstra University (NY) / Temple University, Japan Campus / music; Japanese
Kenae TURNER / Elizabeth City State University (NC) / Toyo University (CIS) / early childhood education
Ryann WATIKER / Ohio State University / Nanzan University / Japanese
Vivien WATSON / California State University, Chico / Kansai Gaidai University / multicultural & gender studies
Jyadon WILLIAMS / Eastern Michigan University / Kansai Gaidai University / international business; computer systems
Dontae WILSON / Albion College (MI) / Japan Center for Michigan Universities / psychology
Chad WREGE / Western Michigan University / Doshisha University / aerospace engineering; Japanese

These Bridging Scholars hail from a variety of schools–public and private, large universities and small colleges–in 22 states. Their majors range from biochemistry to fine arts, but they share a common interest in Japan, its society, and its language and culture. Their destinations also vary, from giant campuses in Tokyo to small colleges in rural Japan.

The goal of the Bridging Project is to promote study abroad in Japan by larger numbers of American undergraduate students. The American Association of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ), which promotes education in Japanese language, literature, and culture, administers the Bridging Scholarship program.

For information on the scholarships, visit the Bridging Project online at www.aatj.org/studyabroad/japan-bridging-scholarships. For information on the Bridging Foundation, visit www.bridgingfoundation.org.