JANUARY 2020 – Twenty 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 2020. Since 1999, 2,064 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 established 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 scholarship program is administrated by AATJ, which promotes education in Japanese language, literature, and culture.

Contributors for the 2019-2020 scholarships include The Freeman Foundation (lead donor); Aflac International, Inc., AIG Japan Holdings K.K., American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ), Ronald and Maria Anderson, Bridging Scholars Alumni Fund (Anonymous, Paul Godwin Clawson, Christopher James Houbeck, E’Narda McCallister, David Weltman), Daiwa Capital Markets America Inc., Kyle DeGruttola, Calvin Dong, Margot Ernest, Exxon Mobil G.K., Jean Falvey, Robert Feldman, Pamela Fields, Deborah Marshall Fike, Yoshiaki Fujiki, Eric Gangloff and Broderick Rojas, James Gannon, Georgi/Ishikawa Fund of the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole, Noah Gottdiener, Green Oak Real Estate, Ellen Hammond and Yasuo Ohdera, Mary Beth Harvey, Amy Heinrich, Harry and Yumiko Hill, Ichigo Asset Management, International Monetary Fund, Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission, J.C.C. Fund-Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of New York, Hirofumi Jinno, Daniela Kaisth, Peter Kelley, Weston Konishi, Theodore Life, Edward Lincoln, Teresa Lindsay, Lockheed Martin Global, Inc., Jack Makoujy, Elliot Maxwell, Geeta Mehta and Krishen Mehta, Margaret Mihori, Mission Value Partners, Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas), David Moffitt, Morgan Stanley MUFG Japan, Deanna Marcum, Patricia Maclachlan and Zoltan Barany, Margaret Mihori, Thomas and Janet Montag, Anne Nishimura Morse, MUFG Securities Americas Inc., Satoru Murase, New York Yankees–Stadium Events, Robert and Janette Noddin, Oak Lawn Marketing, Veronica Onorevole, ORIX Americas Miyauchi Charitable Foundation, T.J. Pempel, Susan Pharr and Robert Mitchell, Thierry and Yasko Porté, Missie Rennie, Roche Family Foundation, Jun and Naomi Saito, Motoatsu Sakurai, Susan Schmidt, Leonard Schoppa, Seiko Watch of America, Paul and Yoshiko Sheard, Sheila Smith, David Sneider, George and Brad Takei, TD Ameritrade Institutional, Toyota Motor North America, U.S.-Japan Council TOMODACHI Initiative, Carol Waite, Miho Walsh; Ira Wolf Memorial Scholarship Fund (Amy Jackson, Nike, Adam Wolf, Eloise Wolf, Evan Wolf, Jeanne Wolf, Lacy Wolf, Lyla Wolf).

These Bridging Scholars hail from a variety of schools–public and private, large universities and small colleges–in 18 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.

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 2020

Hanan BEYENE / Middle Tennessee State University / Kansai Gaidai / Global Studies
Sabrina BONIFACIO / San Jose State University / Sophia University / Mechanical Engineering
Xinyao CHEN / University of Maryland / Waseda University / Computer Science
Dakota FOLKERTS / Nebraska Wesleyan University / Kwansei Gakuin / Economics; Political Science
Rodrianna GADDY / University of South Carolina / Hitotsubashi University / International Business
Kaylie HAYASHIDA / University of Hawaii / Konan University / Secondary Education (Japanese Language)
Emily HODGSON / Portland State University (OR) / Aoyama Gakuin / Japanese
Chloe HOLM  / Kent State University (OH) / Rikkyo University / English
Emma JEFFERSON / University of Iowa / Kanda University of International Studies (IES) / Japanese
Sarah KIM  / Vassar College (NY) / Ochanomizu University / Asian Studies
Nyima LAMA / Guilford College (NC) / Kansai Gaidai / Political Science
Jack LENNY / Colorado State University / Kansai Gaidai / Business Administration; Computer Systems
Laura LINARES FIGUEROA / Clark University (MA) / Kansai Gaidai / International Development
Thomas O’REILLY / Utah State University of Kentucky / Gifu University / Computer Science; Mathematics
Kayanna RUSSO / University of New Mexico / Ritsumeikan University / English; East Asian Studies
Jett SEALE  / Oregon State University / Waseda University / Computer Science
Jake SUMPLE / Sarah Lawrence College (NY)/ Kansai Gaidai / Filmmaking; Creative Writing
Makayla TIMMS / University of West Georgia / Otemon Gakuin / Biology
Keeli WAGNER / University of Nebraska / Kanda University of International Studies (IES) / Anthropology
Helen YE  / University of Michigan / Japan Center for Michigan Universities / Computer Science