Abe and Esther Hagiwara Student Aid Award

Award Amount
Application deadline
Awarded By:

Japanese American Citizens League (JACL)

Number of Awards & Eligibility: The number of awards offered varies annually.
In order to qualify, students must meet the following criteria:
  1. This award is for U.S. students.
  2. Must be a National Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) member.
  3. Must be a U.S. citizen.
  4. Must exhibit severe financial need.
  5. Must plan to enroll at a college, university, trade school, business school, or any other institution of higher learning within the United States at the undergraduate or graduate school level in the fall. Students deferring enrollment will not qualify for the current year's scholarship program.
  6. Must enroll full time.

In order to qualify, students must meet the following criteria:

Description: Current undergraduate or graduate students who are members of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) are eligible for this award. Please note: Students of any ethnicity are eligible to join JACL. Applicants must demonstrate severe financial need.

Application requirements for the Abe and Esther Hagiwara Student Aid Award are:

  • Application form
  • Personal statement
  • Official Transcript
  • Essay
  • Recommendation letters (2)
  • FAFSA
Additional Information: The Hagiwara Student Aid Award was founded to provide financial assistance to a student who otherwise would have to delay or terminate his/her education due to a lack of financing. Only applicants that exhibit severe financial need will be considered for this award. Please note: Every applicant must be an active national JACL member at either an individual or student/youth level. Membership information is available online at jacl.org/member/. The fee for student/youth membership is $25, and the fee for regular/individual membership is $60. Successful applicants who applied for multiple scholarships will receive whichever scholarship carries a higher amount. Applicants are judged on the basis of their JACL involvement, scholastic achievement, extracurricular activities, community involvement, personal statement, and letter of recommendation. Scholarship recipients will be selected and notified in August. Past recipients of JACL National Scholarships or awards are limited to a total of two national awards.

Award Amount: The amount of each award varies annually. All awards are non-renewable.  The total dollars awarded for this scholarship is $2,333.

Deadline Information:

Deadline for this scholarship is Monday, April 1

Deadline Information:

Deadline for this scholarship is Monday, April 1

Applications are available online from the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) website. The student should use the General Application for this scholarship. Please note: The student need submit only one application for all scholarships in a particular category for which he/she wishes to be considered; even if the applicant is eligible for more than one scholarship, he/she may apply under only one scholarship category. The only exception is that applicants may apply for consideration for the Abe & Esther Hagiwara Student Aid Award in addition to another category. In addition to the completed application, each student must submit the following materials: official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended (and from high school, if an entering freshman); a one-page explanation of involvement with JACL; a typed, two-page (double-spaced) personal statement on the current year's topic as listed on the application; a one-page listing of all scholarships or academic awards he/she has received; a listing of extracurricular activities including school, work and community; two letters of recommendation, one of which must be from a person who is familiar with his/her financial need; and a copy of his/her FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or financial aid statement. The FAFSA is available online at www.fafsa.edu, at high school guidance offices, and at college financial aid offices. The student must submit one original and two copies of all application materials, except for transcripts. Only one official copy of each transcript is required.All materials must be mailed to the address provided and must be postmarked by the deadline date.
About Japanese American Citizens League (JACL):
Contact Information: Patty Wada, JACL Regional Director
Address: National JACL Scholarship Committee, c/o Central California District Council 4622 E. Princeton Ave. Fresno, California 93703

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