SAN DIEGO CHAPTER
JAPANESE AMERICAN CITIZENS LEAGUE
SD JACL 2023 Scholarship Recipients
Andy Shimamoto
Mt. Carmel High School, Poway
Class of 2023
Andy Shimamoto was born and raised in San Diego. He is a fifth generation Japanese American with roots in a family of farmers from the Imperial Valley. In his spare time, he enjoys exercising and surfing.
Maya Miyamoto
Patrick Henry High School, San Diego
Class of 2023
Maya Miyamoto will graduate from Patrick Henry High School in 2023 and has lived in San Diego all her life. She played on her high school’s girls tennis team for three years and has participated in theater productions for the past six years. Maya will be attending Boise State University as a part of their Honors College next fall.
Nao Nadahara
The Bishop's School, La Jolla
Class of 2023
Naohiro “Nao” Nadahara is currently a senior at The Bishop’s School in La Jolla. He was born in Tokyo, Japan, and spent time living in both San Diego and Tokyo for the first five years of his life before settling down in La Jolla in 2011. He is fluent in English and in Japanese and has studied French throughout high school. His biggest passion is his music and is currently a principal cellist with the San Diego Youth Symphony now in his eighth year with the organization. In addition to rehearsals, lessons, performances, masterclasses, and competitions, Nao enjoys both classical and electronic music composition and production. Outside of the arts, Nao likes reading, playing video games, exercising, and spending time with family. He hopes to use his newfound interest in cellular and cancer research to pursue a future career in medicine.
Zoe Miyamoto
Patrick Henry High School, San Diego
Class of 2023
Zoe is attending William and Mary in the fall with a plan to major in Economics. She has dedicated her time in high school to being a captain of the varsity tennis team, editor in chief of the yearbook, and a chair within her school's Link Crew. Outside of school, she loves to spend time with her family, hang out with her friends, and work at a local movie theater.