George C. Balch Committee Report
To the USJF Board of Directors and Membership
November 9, 2019
Thank you to Messrs. Robert Balch, Robert Brink, James Cornforth and Noboru Saito for guiding the efforts of the George C. Balch Scholarship Committee. As friends and family of George Balch, these members have been instrumental in keeping his spirit alive through the work of the Committee.
The application for this college scholarship will be available on that date.
We will never forget 9/11
On the 17th anniversary of the Sept. 11 tragedy, remember and reflect with these powerful words.
“Even the smallest act of service, the simplest act of kindness, is a way to honor those we lost, a way to reclaim that spirit of unity that followed 9/11.”
President Obama in a 2011 radio address
The 2017-2018 scholastic year award winners are
1st Abigail Sigurdson, Western Idaho Judo Institute, Daiheigen Yudanshakai
2nd Torie Yumi Oishi, Taishi Judo Club, Nanka Yudanshakai
ASOY will recognize them at the 2020 Summer Nationals as well as announcing the 2018-2019 scholastic year recipients. Due to the timing of the selections, award ceremonies will be at local events to be conducted by Low Dong awarding to Tori Oishi and Bryan Matsuoka to Abigail Sigurdson.
Tori is attending UCLA and Abigail is a student at Boise State University. Congratulations to both athletes.
The Athlete Scholar of the Year Committee will be inviting interested members of USJF to apply for scholarships for the 2018-2019 scholastic year in the next few weeks so please be on the lookout and apply!
The 2019 Keiko Fukuda Scholarship recipient was Totie Oishi. Unfortunately, she was not able to attend the Senior National this year. Torie sent me, as Chair of the Scholarship Committee, this letter of appreciation after receiving the check.
The 2019 Athlete-Scholar of the Year Committee, on behalf of the USJF Board of Directors, is proud to invite applications for scholarships of $1,000, $750, and $500 to further educational opportunities at trade school, technical college, graduate school, college or university studies. Applications are available
The application for this award are
On behalf of the USJF Athlete-Scholar of the Year Committee, thank you for continuing your educational opportunities. It is a sincere desire of United States Judo Federation that you continue to open doors to opportunities to learn and grow. It is our pleasure to continue USJF financial assistance.
In 2015, the committee received 10 applications from outstanding USJF qualified members and after extensive deliberation the following three applicants were selected as the 2015 scholarship recipients:
What happened to ASOY? With the untimely passing of Chairman Jeff Takeda, the committee took pause after the summer of 2015.
Takeda Sensei’s remaining committee members are
and began work again in 2017.
New committee members in 2018 include:
The committee will review the applications following the March 28, 2019 due date and finalize the awards for the presentations this summer 2019.
Vaughn Imada writes:
The USJF Tamo Kitaura Referee Development Grant Committee is very proud to announce the recipients of the 2018 Grants. They join a prestigious company of previous recipients of the award.
Reminder to all high school seniors and graduates intending to continue judo and attend college – The application deadline for the 2018 George Balch Scholarship is June 30, 2018. This year, in addition to the four continuing scholarship awardees, the Committee will strive to fund one additional scholarship. Please read the qualifications and application form carefully and be sure to provide the required information.
Thank you.
Click here to see the Balch Scholarship Fund webage
Pete Catlos
Chairman
George C. Balch Scholarship Committee
telephone: (810) 300-3639
Charmaine De Mesa has sent this information.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, higher levels of education translate to higher employment rates and higher lifetime earnings. It is unfortunate that for many students the cost of higher education is a significant barrier to attaining these career goals. Since all students deserve an equal chance to achieve their highest potential, Reviews.com developed an in-depth scholarship guide designed specifically to help students find all the available financial support that meets their needs. Read more about it here.
Here are the resources for your perusal:
This Scholarship was established by Nancy Washburn to honor Sensei Nishioka’s desire for encouraging judoka college students to promote judo in the future in their chosen career.
Sensei Nishioka believes deeply in the benefits of judo to make better people, better citizens, as its founder, Jigoro Kano proposed. Through his 61 years in judo, as a champion, teacher, writer, referee and leader in the organization, Sensei Nishioka’s focus has been on practices to support the growth of judo.
For more information please see the Scholarship page
or contact Nancy Washburn, Chair