Sue Kunitomi Embrey Student Award winners: Front row from left, Sosaia Maoti, Leila Stanford Maes, Kaylee Bonilla, Chriss Schrader, JJ Kho, Saruya Saluja, Olivia Martynenko; middle row, Eschaun Edwards; back row, Alekka Goldberg, Dianne Chevez Hernandez, Kayden Borges, Journey Camacho, Emma Armendariz. Not pictured: Sienna Endes, Pascal Babcock, Alexis Morita, Dan Bui Kubota.
Winners of the 11th annual Sue Kunitomi Embrey Student Awards were recently recognized at the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute.
The awards program encourages young people to reflect on civil rights issues and consider how they can support and actively participate in social justice issues that impact their communities.
Pre-K through Grade 12 students were invited to participate by submitting creative works depicting their awareness of today’s climate of racial profiling, racism, immigration issues and other social justice concerns.
Submissions could be in written form (essay, short story, poetry), visual arts (painting, drawing, collage, poster) or technology-based (animation, podcast, public service announcement, movie, video, recordings).
The youngest students could show examples of sharing or cooperation.
According to Student Awards Co-chair Jenny Chomori, “Our Student Awards Program is a vehicle for students to demonstrate their understanding of human and civil rights and to show how they will be able to help educate others on the current issues facing our communities.”
From left: Manzanar Committee Chair Bruce Embrey, Student Awards Co-chair Janet Fujii, Manzanar Committee member Colleen Miyano.
Janet Fujii, Student Awards co-chair, added, “At this time, more than ever, we need our children to learn the lessons from history and think of their roles in creating our brighter future.”
At the awards event, Manzanar Committee member Colleen Miyano, whose aunt, the late Sue Kunitomi Embrey, was a founding member of the Manzanar Committee, described how she originated the idea for the Student Awards program.
“Eleven years ago, we were discussing at a meeting what we could do to entice more young people to get involved with civil rights ideals and just to learn more of the World War II experience of the Japanese American community.
“So I suggested organizing a competition of suggested topics to encourage research and creativity for all grade levels. Being a retired teacher, I knew the key was to get the teachers involved. Luckily, Jenny Chomori (also a retired teacher) jumped in with her extensive connections and enthusiastic ideas. And the program developed into what we have today.”
Winning entrants received up to $100 and their work will be recognized at the Manzanar Pilgrimage.
All awardees received framed certificates of recognition, along with a backpack filled with gift items presented by Chomori, Fujii and Manzanar Committee Chair Bruce Embrey, Sue Kunitomi Embrey’s son. A reception for award winners and their families followed.
Sponsors of the event included Back Home in Lahaina, Asian American Drug Abuse Program, Azuma Japanese Restaurant, and Gardena Bowl Coffee Shop.
Student Awards Co-chair Jenny Chomori presented framed certificates for each awardee.