JETS/JETTS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

The Jets/Jetts organization began its scholarship program in 1999 to support its exceptional scholar athletes. The Scholarships were named for the founders of the Jets/Jetts, Sam Kobayashi and Tak Uyesugi for the Boys Division and Mimi Arakaki and Irene Murakami for the Girls Division. 

The scholarships are given to one male and one female high school graduate via a competitive process, which includes high school GPA, organization and community service, a written essay and an oral interview with the scholarship committee. The selection process is intense but provides insight to the truly talented and exceptional scholar athlete. The scholarship covers the four years the awardees are expected to complete their undergraduate education. Additionally, the Jets/Jetts confer four one-time scholarships to outstanding runner-ups.

JETS/JETTS SCHOLARSHIP HALL OF FAME

Year Kobayashi-Uyesugi Scholarship Arakaki-Murakami Scholarship
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010		 Yoshio Osaki – BA, Stanford 2003
Douglas Maesaki – BA, UC San Diego 2004
None
Derek Lowrey – BA, UCLA 2006
Kenny Yee - UCLA
Christopher Shintani - UC Fullerton, BFA Photography 
Justin Yamamoto - USC
Kyle Okumoto – CSU San Diego
Michael Ono - UCLA, History
None
None
Garrett Hara - Stanford - Engineering		 Lori Ginoza – BS, Whittier College 2003, MS USC 2006
Jessica Baba – BA. UC Berkeley 2003, JD, USD Law 2006
Nicole Marquez – BS, Stanford 2005
Kamryn Sakamoto – US Naval Academy, BS, Ocean Engineering 
Lani Marsden - Stanford, BA Intl Relations, John Hopkins - MA Intl Relations  
Allison Nagata - UC Irvine, BA Psychology 2008, USC - Occup Therapy
Michelle Baba - UCLA, BA Design Media Arts 2009
Allyson Hatanaka – CSU Fullerton
Kellyn Dott - UC Santa Barbara
Christine Fukushima - UC Berkeley, Mass Communications
None
Erin Fukushima - UC San Diego, Biology/Chemistry

 

2010 Arakaki-Murakami Scholarship Recipient

 

The Jets / Jetts proudly announce the 2010 winner of our Arakaki - Murakami Annual Scholarship award.
She is:   Erin Fukushima.

Erin is a long time member of one of our graduating teams, the Jetts Unknown. She recently graduated from the Buckley School where she achieved a cumulative G.P.A. of over 4.2. While attending Buckley, she received the Scholar Athlete Award in Basketball, Cross Country, Track and Softball and received Certificate of Merit and Outstanding Achievement Awards in Math and English. She has been a member of the Student Council, Diversity Club and National Honor Society.

Like most of our graduating seniors, Erin professes a passion for basketball. As a senior point guard for the Buckley School , she was named to the 2010 All CIF Girls Basketball Team. In the fall, Erin will be attending the University of California at San Diego . She writes: As a senior at The Buckley School, I juggled Student Council, Diversity Club, National Honor Society, and athletics. Although my extra-curricular were extremely important to me, basketball is my passion, and has been my passion since I was in kindergarten. As a point-guard for the Jetts Unknown, I learned to lead others with strength, conviction, and patience. In return, my teammates have taught me modesty, sincerity, and trust. We have become sisters. I will miss all my Jetts Unknown teammates next year, but hopefully we will stay together and play a few tournaments in the future. 

In addition, I have developed an interest in softball. I was an all-league player for the past three years at my high school and have hopes for continuing to play in college at an intramural level. Now that school is over and basketball and softball seasons are over, I enjoy reading, watching movies, and going to the beach. I wanted to stay in sunny California so next year I will be attending Sixth College at the University of California in San Diego . I’ll be taking classes to fulfill either a Biology or Chemistry major because I would like to attend dental school after I finish college. Later on, I would like to go to 2 more years of college to pursue a career as an orthodontist in remembrance of my late aunt, Cathy Cadorna.  

I owe everything to my dad, mom, and both my sisters. They have stood by me through thick and thin and I love them all so much. I also owe a huge thanks to my Jetts team and to the whole organization for supporting me throughout the years and for becoming an extended part of my family.

 

2010 Kobayashi-Uyesugi Scholarship Recipient

 

It is with great pleasure that the Jets / Jetts announce the winner of our 2010 Kobayashi - Uyesugi Scholarship Award. He is Garret Hara of the Jets Air Force 1.

Garrett has recently graduated from Mark Keppel High School where he achieved a cumulative G.P.A. of 4.5. While at Keppel, Garret was the President of the school’s section of the National Honor Society, Vice President of the Parent Teacher Association and was the captain of the Varsity Track Team. He performed in the marching band and participated in the Stanford University Educational Program for Gifted Youth and the USC / Chevron Energy Frontiers Program. Garrett will be attending Stanford University in the fall where he will pursue his passions in chemistry and engineering. He writes:

I have been with the Jets Air Force One since I was seven, and the Jets Organization has fostered my love for basketball, my culture, and my teammates. The basketball court has taught me teamwork, and the discipline and will to persevere through challenging times.   

This fall I will be studying science and engineering at Stanford University .  I have always had a passion for music and look forward to joining the Stanford Band. I intend to learn Japanese and indulge my interest in the sciences by studying overseas in Kyoto . Stanford has been my dream school since 6th grade. I look forward to the beautiful breezy weather of Palo Alto , and enjoying intramural basketball for my next four years.  

I really enjoy seeing others succeed and knowing that I contributed to their success. I seek positions of leadership because they allow me to help others achieve even greater achievements than my own. Most of my leadership focuses on Boy Scouting. I have been a staff member at the Boy Scout National Youth Leadership Training Program of the San Gabriel Valley Council for four years, where we teach young scout leaders effective leadership styles, methods for success, life lessons, and how to properly treat and lead others.  This year I have attained the rank of Eagle Scout.  At Mark Keppel High School , I try to give back to the school with my position as president in the MKHS Band and the National Honors Society, and as Co-1st VP of the PTSA.    

I am fortunate to have wonderful family, friends, teachers, leaders and coaches who have taught and supported me and instilled in me good values, high morals, and an appreciation of community service.  I owe them everything and I appreciate all the things these wonderful people have done for me.  Thank You.

 

Directors Awards

 

Rhiann Ogata has been selected as a recipient of a 2010 Board of Directors Scholarship Award by the Jets/Jetts. Rhiann is a long time member of our graduating girls basketball team, the Jetts Unknown.

 Rhiann has recently graduated from Schurr High School , where she achieved a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.8.  She has received the Girl Scout Silver Award, the Girl Scout Gold Award and has received  the “Straight A Student Medal”. Rhiann has volunteered much of her time to the San Gabriel Valley Humane Society and the Veterinary Healthcare Center . Because of her dedication to the care and well being of animals, Rhiann plans to attend the University of California at Davis to pursue a career in animal behavior. She writes:

 I would like to say that I am extremely thankful and appreciative for my family, team, coach and the JetsJetts Organization for getting me where I am now. My family has always supported me in what I have wanted to do, no matter how much time and money it has cost. My Jetts Unknown teammates and Coach Mike have always been people I look forward to seeing and learning from every weekend.

 

Tyler Chan has also been selected as a recipient of a 2010 Board of Directors Scholarship Award. Tyler is a long time member of our graduating boys basketball team, the Jets Air Force 1.

Tyler recently graduated from Arcadia High School where he maintained a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.8. While at Arcadia High School , Tyler was selected to the Principal’s Honor Roll, the California Scholarship Federation and honored as a Scholar Athlete. He participated in the G.A.T.E. Program and in the COSMOS math and science program held at the University of California at Irvine . He has also spent numerous hours volunteering at his local library and helping restore the gardens at the Los Angeles Arboretum.

In addition to basketball, Tyler has played soccer for many years. He was selected as the Most Valuable Player on his high school soccer team and was the team’s starting goalie.

Tyler plans to attend the University of California at San Diego in the fall where he will major in business economics and/or engineering. His ultimate goal is to become the General Manager of the Los Angeles Lakers. The Jets / Jetts wish him the best in his future endeavors.