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Athlete-Scholar of the Year Committee

Members Chair
Mr. Low Dong, Nanka
Mrs. Francis Glaze, Konan
Mrs. Janet Y. Ashida Johnson, Niagara
Ms. Karen Nagai, Northwestern
Dr. Kuniko Takeuchi, Daiheigen
Mr. Sheldon Konno, 50th State
Mrs. Diane Tamai Jackson, Shufu

Athlete Scholar of the Year for 2019 and 2020 Winners will be awarded at 2020 Grassroots Judo™ Jr. National Championships.

On behalf of the USJF Athlete-Scholar of the Year Committee (ASOY), thank you for continuing your educational opportunities and creating options for yourselves. It is a sincere desire of United States Judo Federation that you continue to open doors to opportunities and to be life-long learners and champions of Character. It is USJF pleasure to award this financial assistance as a token of appreciate for your hard work and dedication.

In 2019 the committee proudly selected the following members as the 2019 scholarship recipients:

  • Abigail S. Sigurdson, Western Idaho Judo Institute, Daiheigen Yudanshakai, awarded the USJF scholarship to Boise State University. Her major is civil engineering.
  • Tori Oishi, Taishi Judo Club, Nanka Yudanshakai, awarded the USJF scholarship to the University of California in Los Angeles. Her major is Biology as a Pre-Med student.

The committee will review next year’s applications following the March 29, 2020 due date. We will finalize the awards for the presentations in the summer of 2020 in Florida at the Junior National Judo Tournament.

Thank you from your USJF Athlete Scholar of the Year committee!

Recipients

1994

Richard Rose, Nanka, Gardena Judo Club
Christine Shiosaki, Nanka, Harbor Judo Dojo
Harvey Takeda, Hokka, Sacramento Judo Club

1995

Chanin Sugimoto, Nanka, Gardena Judo Club, see her letter
Ryan Jung, Hokka, Sacramento Judo Club
Shannon Oyama, Wakagi Kai, AJA Judo Club

1996

Mark Imai, Nanka, Nishi Judo Club
Megan Williams, Central Coast, Albany YMCA Judo Club
Trenton J. Mitsuoka, Daiheigen, Okubo Judo Club

1997

Mark Imai, Nanka, Nishi Judo Club
Cynthia Kono, Nanka, Valley Judo Institute
Emily Wee, Konan, Macomb Y Judo Club

1998

Marc Uemuram, Hokka, Salinas Judo Club
Sayaka Matsumoto, Daiheigen, East Bay Judo Institute
Israel Trujillo, Hokka, Salinas Judo Club

1999

Sayaka Matsumoto, Daiheigen, East Bay Judo Institute
David Eldred, Daiheigen, Western Idaho Judo Institute
Marc Uemura, Hokka, Salinas Judo Club

2000

Sayaka Matsumoto, Daiheigen, East Bay Judo Institute
Cindy Imai, Nanka, Mojica Dojo
Lisa Uemura, Hokka, Salinas Judo Club

2001

Cindy M. Imai, Nanka, Mojica Judo Club
Lisa M. Uemura, Hokka, Salinas Judo Club
Michael M. Eldred, Daiheigen, Western Idaho Judo Institute

2002

Lisa M. Uemura, Hokka, Salinas Judo Michael H. Oshima, Rokushu, Tohoku Judo Club
Scott K. Uemura, Hokka, Salinas Judo Club

2003

Michael M. Eldred, Daiheigen, Western Idaho Judo Institute
Lisa M. Uemura, Hokka, Salinas Judo Club
Scott K. Uemura, Hokka, Salinas Judo Club

2004

Michael M. Eldred, Daiheigen, Western Idaho Judo Institute
Scott K. Uemura, Hokka, Salinas Judo Club
Eric H. Nakagawa, Central Coast, San Jose Buddhist Judo Club

2005

Michael M. Eldred, Daiheigen, Western Idaho Judo
Mitchell M. Yokogawa, Nanka, San Gabriel Judo Dojo see his letter
Sayaka A. Matsumoto, Daiheigen, East Bay Judo Institute

2006

Mitchell M. Yokogawa, Nanka, San Gabriel Judo Dojo
Michael M. Eldred, Daiheigen, Western Idaho Judo Institute
Steven M. Lee, Chuka, West Clovis Judo Club

2007

Michael M. Eldred, Daiheigen, Western Idaho Judo Institute
Steven M. Lee, Chuka, West Clovis Judo Club

2008

Steven Lee, West Clovis Judo, Chuka Yudanshakai
Megan Ishibashi, Sacramento Judo Club, Hokka Yudanshakai
Kelly Au, Victorious Judo Club, Chicago Judo Black Belt Assoc.

2009

Steven Lee, West Clovis Judo Club, Chuka Yudanshakai
Megan Ishibashi, Sacramento Judo Club, Hokka Yudanshakai
Grant Furukawa, Sacramento Judo Club, Hokka Yudanshakai

2010

Priscella Lee, West Clovis Judo Club, Chuka Yudanshakai
Steven Lee, West Clovis Judo Club, Chuka Yudanshakai
Megan Ishibashi, Sacramento Judo, HokkavYudanshaki

2011

Elaine Tandjung, Vallejo Judo, Hokka Yudanshakai
Kathleen Sell, Welcome Mat and Olympic Training Center, Chicago Yudanshakai
Daniela Gomez, Saito/Wee Dojo, Konan Yudanshakai

2012

Brice Oishi from Torrance CA
Diane Mikuni, Kapolei HI
Tyler Shimizu, El Grove CA

First place winner ($1000) is on the right, Brice Oishi from Torrance CA, second from the right is second place winner Diane Mikuni ($750) from Kapolei HI and third place third from the right is Tyler Shimizu from Elk Grove CA. The winners are pictured with Vaughn Imada, USJF vice president.

2013

Tyler Shimizu, Sacramento Judo Club, Hokka Yudanshakai

2014

On behalf of the Committee, thank you to all of the USJF Athlete-Scholar of the Year Award for 2014 Academic applicants! We encourage all eligible students to continue your academic and judo studies and to apply again next year.

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

  1. Chase Oishi, Tarsh Judo Club, Nanka Yudanshakai
  2. Benjamin R. Hinatsu, Western Idaho Judo Institute, Daiheigen Yudanshakai
  3. Andrew Kageyama, Sacramento Judo Club, Hokka Yudanshakai

The official recognition and award ceremony will be at the Junior Nationals at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana on July 10- 12, 2015.

Athlete scholar of the year (ASOY) committee met at the USJF National meeting held April 29, 2015 at Irving Convention Center in Irving, Texas.

Chairman Jeff Takeda appointed 2 new members: Sensei Eiko Shepherd – Chicago Yudanshakai and Low Dong – Nanka Yudanshakai to the committee. Present were Eiko Shepherd – Chicago, Low Dong – Nanka, Bryan Matsuoka, Daiheigen, and Jeff Takeda – Hokka. Votes were submitted prior to the meeting by the following members: Margaret Catt – Daiheigen, Jim Takemori – Shufu, and Kuniko Takeuchi – Daiheigen