Throughout her life, Jean Yonemura Wing fought for social justice. She devoted much of her career to the transformation of the Oakland Public Schools so that it would deliver on its promise to make educational equity, excellence, and empowerment real in every school, every classroom, every day, for every student, no matter the student’s citizenship, race, economic background, ethnicity, language, or religion.
Jean focused especially on disenfranchised Black, Asian, Latinx, and other children of color, having herself come from a Japanese American family that was unjustly imprisoned during World War II. She worked closely and collectively with BIPOC students, families, community leaders, and educators, always seeking and honoring their life stories to devise strategies leading to youth empowerment. Jean Yonemura Wing Memorial Scholarship awards are given to young men affiliated with KOO who evidence the potential to make the same lifelong commitment to advancing equity and social justice.
In the spring of 2022, two-to-four young men will be awarded scholarship awards of $5,000 each. Eligible applicants must be affiliated with KOO. Additionally, they must be graduating high school seniors headed to two- or four-year colleges or ongoing college students seeking an associate, bachelor’s, or graduate degree. The money may be used for any expense associated with obtaining a college education, e.g., housing, food, internet, computer, printer, books, transportation.
Applicants must complete the form below no later than 5 pm PT, May 19, 2022. The application requires an essay not to exceed 750 words.
The essay should address:
1) the applicant’s aspirations for advancing equity and social justice
2) how he plans to fulfill them by drawing upon:
a) his college education, b) his work with KOO, c) lessons learned from challenges he has faced, and d) the example of Jean Yonemura Wing.
Before writing essays, applicants are encouraged to watch the video above about Jean Yonemura Wing and the first two scholarship recipients.
Once applications are reviewed, finalists will be asked to participate in virtual interviews before June 1, 2022. Two-to-four young men will be selected for scholarship awards of $5,000 each. They will be notified by June 3, 2022.