July 1, 2014 — Seventy-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 of up to $4,000 to assist with their living expenses while they study in Japan during the Fall 2014 semester and the 2014-2015 academic year. Since 1999, 1,435 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, 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 the American Association of Teachers of Japanese, a professional organization for teachers of Japanese language, literature, and culture.

Contributors to the Fall 2014 scholarships include The Freeman Foundation (lead donor); Aflac Japan, Laurence Bates, Kenji Govaers, Estee Lauder K.K., Exxon Mobil G.K., Eric Feigenbaum, Robert Feldman, Richard Folsom, Anthony Gilmore, the Robert Grondine Memorial Scholarship Fund, Gudni and Eiko Gudnason, Ellen Hammond and Yasuo Ohdera, Harry Hill, Barry Hirschfeld, Debbie Howard, Ichigo Asset Management, the Japan Foundation, Japan-US Friendship Commission, JP Morgan Securities Japan, Lockheed Martin Global, Inc., Jon Malamud, Roger McDonald, Arthur Mitchell, Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas), Morgan Stanley Japan, Maneesh Kalra, Robert and Janette Noddin, Oak Lawn Marketing, ORIX USA, Jay Ponazecki, Tom Pederson, Thierry and Yasko Porte, Hayashi Sasaki, John Sasaki, Taisuke and Catherine Sasanuma, Elliott Segal, Dennis Sheehan, Allan Smith, David Sneider, George and Brad Takei, Temple University-Japan Campus, Gary Thomas, Toyota Motor North America, and U.S.-Japan Council-TOMODACHI Initiative.

For more information on the scholarships or to receive application forms, visit www.aatj.org/studyabroad/scholarships.

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

Recipients of Bridging Scholarships for Study Abroad in Japan, Fall 2014

Feruza AZIMOVA / University of Hawai’i / Hokkaido University / Political Science
Daniel BATEYKO / Middlebury College / International Christian University / International Studies
Crystal BECKMAN / Illinois College / Ritsumeikan University / Japanese Studies & English
Matthew BENTZ / University of Nevada, Reno / Kwansei Gakuin / Biochemistry
     (Lockheed Martin Bridging Scholar)
John CARLSON / University of Southern California / Waseda University /
    Biochemistry & Japanese Studies (Morgan Stanley Japan Bridging Scholar)
Lorenzo CHAVEZ / University of California, Berkeley/ Waseda University / Sociology
     (J.P. Morgan Japan Bridging Scholar)
Rebekah CHENG / University of Washington / Waseda University / International Studies
Alivia DANDURAND / Florida State University / Hiroshima University / Business & Japanese
Jordan DANIELS / Spelman College (GA) / Temple University Japan / International Studies
Lenetta DAZZELL / SUNY Geneseo / Kansai Gaidai / Psychology
Zane DEBILT /University of Alaska, Fairbanks / Nagoya Gakuin / History
     (Oak Lawn Marketing Bridging Scholar)
Joshua EKSTEDT / Georgia Institute of Technology / Tohoku University / Civil Engineering
     (Exxon Mobil Bridging Scholar)
Ediliana ESTRELLA / SUNY New Paltz / Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies /
    International Relations & Asian Studies
Rhonda FARRINGTON / Oklahoma State University / Shinshu University / Asian Studies
     (TOMODACHI Bridging Scholar)
Danica FOREMAN / University of Oklahoma / Ritsumeikan APU / Anthropology
     (Lockheed Martin Bridging Scholar)
Elliot FOWLKS / University of Illinois, Chicago / Chiba University / TESOL
     (Robert Grondine Memorial Fund Bridging Scholar)
Kenyon GENTRY / Westminster College (PA) / Nanzan University (ISEP) / Biology
Tyler GILBERT / University of Texas, Austin / Iwate University / Japanese
     (TOMODACHI Bridging Scholar)
Thomas GILMER / George Mason University (VA) / Akita International University / Global Affairs
Nicholas GLAZEWSKI / Washington College (MD) / Meiji Gakuin / International Studies
Maxon GRIFFIN / Arizona State University / Waseda University / Japanese
Kamila GRZESKOWIAK / North Central College (IL) / Kyoto Gakuen University / Japanese Studies
     (TOMODACHI Bridging Scholar)
Rosalie GUNAWAN / University of Alaska, Anchorage / Hokkaido University of Education /
    Japanese & International Studies (TOMODACHI Bridging Scholar)
Dunya HABASH / Birmingham Southern College (AL) / Kansai Gaidai / History & Music
Christian HARTMAN / Western Michigan University / Keio University / Chemistry & Physics
     (Exxon Mobil Bridging Scholar)
Ashley HAUGLAND / University of Alabama / Meiji University / International Studies
     (TOMODACHI Bridging Scholar)
Michael HAVERTY / Marshall University (WV) / Kansai Gaidai / Japanese
     (Oak Lawn Marketing Bridging Scholar)
Meghan HIRSH / University of Pittsburgh (PA) / Ritsumeikan University / Japanese
Christina HOLLENBECK / University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill / Nanzan University / History
Sabrina IM / University of California, Santa Cruz / Tsuru University / World Literature
Chris JOHNSON / Rice University (TX) / Kanda University of Foreign Studies (IES) / Linguistics
Jared JOSEPH / Valparaiso University (IN) / Kansai Gaidai / Psychology
Christian KOGUCHI / University of Texas, Austin / Sophia University /
    Commerce & International Relations (Lockheed Martin Bridging Scholar)
Hsin-Yen LIU / Oberlin College (OH) / Kansai Gaidai / Politics and Asian Studies
Paige LONG-WHEELER / University of Oklahoma / Yamaguchi University / Asian Studies
Rosalyn LUCAS / University of Kansas / Tsuda College / Japanese
Lizet MARTINEZ / California State University, Monterey Bay / J.F. Oberlin University / Japanese
Cory MCKENZIE / University of New Hampshire / Saitama University / History
     (J.P. Morgan Japan Bridging Scholar)
Ivan MENDEZ / William Paterson University (NJ) / KCP International / Japanese
Brenda MONTES / College of St. Benedict (MN) / Bunkyo Gakuin / Communications
Tiara MONTGOMERY / Montclair State University (NJ) / Temple University Japan / Filmmaking
Allison MOSES / University of Memphis (TN) / J.F. Oberlin University / Anthropology
     (TOMODACHI Bridging Scholar)
Zachary MUNYON / Linfield College (OR) / Aoyama Gakuin / Japanese
Chad NAKAOKA / University of Hawai’i, Manoa / Tohoku University / Mechanical Engineering
     (TOMODACHI Bridging Scholar)
Anela NISHIMOTO / University of Hawai’i, Hilo / Tokyo Gakugei University / communication
Matthew NOYES / Exeter, NH / Temple University Japan / International relations & Japanese
      (Temple University – Japan Campus Bridging Scholar
Leah O’LEARY / Eastern Michigan University / Kansai Gaidai / Secondary Education
     TOMODACHI Bridging Scholar)
Carrie OTT / Calvin College (MI) / Japan Center for Michigan Universities / Linguistics
Chieu PHAM / University of California, Los Angeles / Keio University / Economics
     (J.P. Morgan Japan Bridging Scholar)
Mariel PRATZ-ALBERT / Linfield College (OR) / Doshisha University / Anthropology
     Oak Lawn Marketing Bridging Scholar)
Varanon PUKASAMSOMBUL / University of California, San Diego / Tohoku University / Electrical
     Engineering (Lockheed Martin Bridging Scholar)
Chieko QUIGLEY / George Washington University (DC) / Sophia University (CIEE) / International
     Affairs
Logan RAY / University of North Carolina, Charlotte / Oita University / Japanese Studies
     (TOMODACHI Bridging Scholar)
Alexandra RICHARDSON / Denison University (OH) / Kwansei Gakuin (USAC) /
    English Literature & East Asian Studies (Oak Lawn Marketing Bridging Scholar)
Andy RODRIGUEZ / Columbia University (NY) / Waseda University (SILS) / Latin American Studies
     (J.P. Morgan Japan Bridging Scholar)
Sarah SANTANA / Georgetown University (DC) / Waseda University / Japanese & Linguistics
Abigail SEASE / Hollins University (VA) / Kansai Gaidai / Art History
Mariah STOVER / Oregon State University / Waseda University / Natural Resources
     (Exxon Mobil Bridging Scholar)
Kaitlynn STUART / University of California, Santa Barbara / International Christian University /
    Asian Studies (J.P. Morgan Japan Bridging Scholar)
Sakura SUJKA / University of Florida / Aoyama Gakuin / Japanese
Pamela SURIYACHAI / University of Florida / Kansai Gaidai / Linguistics
Alicia TAYLOR / George Washington University (DC) / Waseda University (SILS) / Japanese
Katelynn TAYLOR /Bowling Green State University (OH) / Kobe College / International Business
     (Oak Lawn Marketing Bridging Scholar)
Felicia TCHEN / Towson University (MD) / J.F. Oberlin University / Computer Science
     (Exxon Mobil Bridging Scholar)
Ashley TOMORI / University of Hawai’i, Hilo / Seinan Gakuin / Japanese Studies
Lucy WARD / Marshall University (WV) / Kansai Gaidai / International Business
     (Morgan Stanley Japan Bridging Scholar)
Jeffrey WELLS / University of North Carolina, Greensboro / Seinan Gakuin / Information Systems
     (Exxon Mobil Bridging Scholar)
Alex WHITE / Bard College (NY) / Antioch Buddhist Studies / Film Production & Asian Studies
Roland WILLIAMS / University of North Carolina, Charlotte / Doshisha University / Biology
Kaitlin WISE / University of Pittsburgh (PA) / Kitakyushu University / Japanese & French
     (TOMODACHI Bridging Scholar)
Ashlee WLASIUK / Parsons The New School (NY) / Chiba University / Industrial Design
     (Lockheed Martin Bridging Scholar)
Grace XU / University of Pennsylvania / Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies / Digital Media
     Design
Keri YATOGO / Macalester College (MN) / Nanzan University (IES) / Political Science
Weon YUAN / Marist College (NY) / Temple University Japan / Computer Science