|
|
JAPANESE LANGUAGE
SCHOLARSHIP "AURORA" FOUNDATION Announces the 4th Annual
Scholarship Winners
For Immediate Release
Press contact: CEI
Tel: (323) 463-9929
Fax: (323) 464-8048
Los Angeles - August 9, 2002 - The Japanese Language Scholarship
"AURORA" Foundation is pleased to announce their fourth
scholarship winners, Mr. Matt Burdelski and Ms. Amy Grover. The
primary goal of the Aurora Foundation is to assist United States
citizens, who are either Japanese language teachers or graduate
students of Japanese language education, to experience living
in Japan and have the opportunity to participate in various educational
programs during their stay to further their understanding of
the Japanese language and culture. Two winners receive a $5,000
scholarship which includes roundtrip airfare from the U.S. to
Japan and tuition to a Japanese language educational program.
To welcome the two recipients of the JLSF scholarships, the
Aurora Foundation is holding the Aurora Foundation Award Dinner
on Thursday, September 5, 2002 at 6:00 P.M. at the New Otani
Hotel & Garden. To show his support of the goals of the Aurora
Foundation, Yuzo Kayama, known by many by the nickname "Wakadaisho"
(Young Guy), will attend. Mr. Nobu Matsuhisa will generously
create some special hors d’oeuvres for the event. There
will also be a benefit auction (live & silent) which is a
fundraising event for the Aurora Foundation (EIN: 31-1639219).
Matt Burdelski received an M.A. in Japanese language and pedagogy
in 1998 from the University of Oregon. Afterwards he went to
Japan on a Monbusho Fellowship, where he was a research student
at Osaka University and further studied Japanese language pedagogy.
Currently he is a third-year Ph.D. student at the University
of California, Los Angeles, majoring in Japanese linguistics.
He also teaches elementary Japanese as a teaching assistant and
instructor. He is interested in the intersection of discourse
and language teaching/teacher training. (Click
here to read statement from Matt Burdelski)
Amy Grover teaches kindergarten in Japanese at Portland Public
Schools' “Japanese Magnet Program” in Portland, Oregon.
The team of Japanese teachers in the program, including Amy,
recently completed the production of a comprehensive K-12 language
curriculum, which is now being used as a reference for other
existing Japanese immersion programs as well as for new programs
starting up across the country.
Yuzo Kayama is one of Japan's most popular actors and singers.
He appeared in films such as "Sanjuro" and "Red
Beard" which were directed by Akira Kurosawa and is most
well known for the popular film series, "Young Guy"
(Wakadaisho). Well known songs include his 1961 debut, "Yoru
no Taiyo" (The Sun of the Night) and 1965's"Kimito
Itsumademo" (Always with You). Mr. Kayama makes his Los
Angeles debut at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
on September 6, 2002. The benefit concert, presented by the Aurora
Foundation and produced by Bridge USA, Creative Enterprise International,
Inc., and Hiroaki Kaneko Office Co., Ltd.., is a charitable fundraising
event for the Aurora Foundation .
Dr. Akiko Agishi, Founder & President of the Aurora Foundation,
is a former Fulbright scholar and graduate of UCLA and is happy
to have the opportunity to share her dream with young educators.
"The youth of today remain our hope for tomorrow and I believe
we must all do our part to help prepare them, through quality
educators, for that tomorrow."
The Japanese Language Scholarship "AURORA" Foundation
is generously supported by the following corporate sponsors:
Panasonic, Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc., Japan Airlines, All Nippon
Airways Co., LTD., Aratani Foundation, Crystal Cruises/Shogun
Cruises& Tours, Nijiya Market, All Nippon Airways, Asahi
Ryokuken, California Bank & Trust, Elephant Tours, Hakutsuru,
Hitachi LTD, Inaba, Tomio Ito, JFC International, Inc., Kamiya
& Takahashi Insurance Agency, Kawai, Kikkoman International
Inc., Kinokuniya Bookstores of America, Koyo Graphic International
Inc., Nobu Matsuhisa, Maeda-en, Mishima Foods USA Inc., The New
Otani Hotel & Garden, Nippon Express USA, Northwest Airlines,
Ozeki Corporation, Parachute America, Sakura Rent-A-Car, Sanuki
no Sato, Sapporo USA Inc., Shirako, Yamamotoyama of America.
Media sponsors are BRIDGE U.S.A., Rafu Shimpo, and United Television
Broadcasting. Aurora is also supported by the Consulate General
of Japan Los Angeles, Japan America Society, The Japan Foundation
and Language Center in Los Angeles, Japanese American Cultural
& Community Center, Japan Business Association, Japanese
Chamber of Commerce of Southern California, Japan External Trade
Organization Los Angeles, L.A. Mita-kai, L.A. Tokyo-kai.
For more information, including sponsorship, please contact the
Aurora Foundation at (323) 466-1237 or by e-mail at AuroraFoundation@usa.net.
Please check the JLSF website at www.jlsf-aurora.org.
3rd annual scholarship winners
2nd annual scholarship winners
|
