Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) – National Scholarship Program

The JACL has been helping students achieve their educational dreams with the National Scholarship and Awards Program since 1946.  The program currently offers over 30 awards, with an annual total of over $70,000 in scholarships to qualified students nationwide.

The National Scholarship and Awards Program offer scholarships to students who are entering freshman, undergraduate, graduate, law, in the creative & performing arts, and those with financial need.  All scholarships are one-time awards.

Please note:  In addition to the National JACL Scholarship Program, many JACL chapters administer their own local scholarship programs.  To find out if your chapter offers additional scholarships, please find your chapter’s website and contact information here.

Graduate Scholarships

• Henry & Chiyo Kuwahara Memorial Scholarship for students in any discipline.
• Railroad and Mine Workers Memorial Scholarship for students in any discipline.
• Dr. Kiyoshi Sonoda Memorial Scholarship for students studying in the field of dentistry.
• Chiyoko and Thomas Shimazaki Scholarship for students planning a career in the medical field.
• Reveren H. John & Asako Yamashita Memorial Scholarship for students concerned with education, social justice, and community service.
• Minoru Yasui Memorial Scholarship for students with an interest in human rights and civil rights in fields including sociology, law, or education.

Law Scholarships

• Grace Andow Memorial Scholarship
• Thomas T. Hayashi Memorial Scholarship
• Sho Sato Memorial Scholarship

Special Awards

• Abe and Esther Hagiwara Student Aid Award for students with severe financial need.
• Aiko Susanna Tashiro Hiratsuka Memorial Scholarship for students studying in the performing arts.
• Henry and Chiyo Kuwahara Creative Arts Award for creative projects that reflect the Japanese American experience.
• Dr. George Goro and Nettie Muramoto Memorial Scholarship for students who demonstrate financial need.