January 2019 – Twenty-seven 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 $2,500 to assist with their expenses while they study in Japan in Spring 2019. Since 1999, 1,964 scholarships have been awarded by the US-Japan Bridging Foundation.
The Japan-US Friendship Commission, an independent federal agency promoting mutual understanding between the United States and Japan, initiated the Bridging Project scholarship program and initiated a 501(c)(3) private foundation, the U.S.-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 American Association of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ), which promotes education in Japanese language, literature, and culture, administers the Bridging Scholars scholarship program.
Contributors for the 2018-2019 scholarships include Aflac Japan, AIG Holdings KK, Amway Japan, Ronald and Maria Anderson, Bridging Scholars Alumni Scholarship Fund, Paul Clawson, Exxon Mobil G.K., Jean Falvey, Robert Feldman, Deborah Marshall Fike, the Freeman Foundation, Yoshiaki Fujiki, Robert Grondine Memorial Scholarship Fund, Ellen Hammond and Yasuo Ohdera, Harry and Yumiko Hill, Christopher James Houbeck, Ichigo Asset Management, International Monetary Fund, Amy Jackson, the Japan Foundation, Japan-United States Friendship Commission, Hirofumi Jinno, Lockheed Martin Global, Inc., Patricia Maclachlan and Zoltan Barany, Deanna Marcum, E’Narda McCalister, Margaret Mihori, Nike, Mission Value Partners, Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas), Morgan Stanley Japan, Anne Nishimura Morse, Robert and Janette Noddin, Oak Lawn Marketing, ORIX Americas Miyauchi Charitable Foundation, T.J. Pempel, Susan Pharr and Robert Mitchell, Thierry Porté and Yasko Tashiro Porté, the Roche Family Foundation, Jun and Naomi Saito, Susan Schmidt, Leonard Schoppa, David Sneider, George and Brad Takei, Temple University-Japan Campus, Toyota Motor North America, the U.S.-Japan Council TOMODACHI Initiative, David Weltman, the Ira Wolf Memorial Scholarship Fund, Adam Wolf, Jeanne, Eloise, Evan, Lyla, and Lacy Wolf.
Bridging Scholars hail from a variety of schools–public and private, large universities and small colleges–in 17 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. A list of the recipients, their schools, their destination programs, and their majors can be found below. Applications will be accepted in April 2019 for the next group of Bridging Scholarships, for study in Japan beginning in Fall 2019. For information on the scholarships and to access application form, visit the Bridging Project online at www.aatj.org/studyabroad/japan-bridging-scholarships.
For information on the Bridging Foundation, visit www.bridgingfoundation.org.
Recipients of Bridging Scholarships for Study Abroad in Japan
Spring 2019
Jason BARD / College of William and Mary (VA) / Keio University / Psychology
Maya BEST / University of Pittsburgh (PA) / Sophia University / English; Anthropology
Robin BEZAYIFF / University of California, Santa Cruz / Doshisha University / Biochemistry; Molecular
Biology
Myesha DILLS / Grand Valley State University (MI) / Ritsumeikan APU / International Relations
Ruth DUNCAN / Union University (TN) / KCP International / Art
Eric EGGERS / University of Missouri, St. Louis / Rikkyo University / Japanese
Orion FISHER / College of Southern Nevada / Temple University, Japan Campus / Business
Sarah FRIEND / University of Texas, Martin / Hiroshima Jogakuin / International Studies
Hannah JOHNSON / University of Tennessee, Knoxville / Kansai Gaidai / World Business; Japanese
Jacob KERNC / Colorado Mesa University / Toyo University / Ecology, Evolution, & Organismal Biology
Stephen McINTOSH / Carnegie Mellon University (PA) / Nanzan University / Computer Science
Nina MEI / Seattle University (WA) / Sophia University / Nursing
Michelle MILLER / University of Memphis (TN) / JF Oberlin University / Political Science; Japanese
Lucinda MORRIS / University of Kentucky / Waseda University / Studio Art; Japanese Studies
Peter MOW / Colorado College / Waseda University / Geology
Cindy NGUYEN / Smith College (MA) / Waseda University / East Asian Studies
Oluwaseun OSHODI / Pitzer College (CA) / Kwansei Gakuin / International Economics; Japanese
Angel PAN / Augustana College (IL) / Stanford University (CA) / Bing Program, Doshisha University /
Symbolic Systems
Lana PARKER / University of Virginia / Waseda University / Studio Art; Japanese
Rebecca RADOMSKY / University of Notre Dame (IN) / Kyoto University / Chemistry
Ashton REDMAN / Maryland Institute College of Art / Osaka Gakuin (AICAD) / Interdisciplinary Sculpture
Nathan SILITONGA / University of California, San Diego / Tohoku University / Mechanical Engineering
Marina STANSON / University of Mount Union (OH) / Kansai Gaidai / International Business; Japanese
Bridget TOLLE / Austin College (TX) / Sophia University / Asian Studies; Creative Writing
Nana UENO / Colorado State University / Sophia University (CIEE) / Ecosystem Science & Sustainability
Sara ULANOSKI / University of Louisville (KY) / Kwansei Gakuin (USAC) / Anthropology; History
Elise YOUNG / Mercer University (GA) / University of Aizu / Electrical Engineering
