The Hawaii Island AJA Veterans Legacy Association recently presented a $1,000 scholarship to Keaau High School senior Shylynn Y. Kawamoto for her excellence in academic, co-curricular and extracurricular achievements.
The Hawaii Island AJA Veterans Legacy Association recently presented a $1,000 scholarship to Keaau High School senior Shylynn Y. Kawamoto for her excellence in academic, co-curricular and extracurricular achievements.
The award was presented to Kawamoto on May 21 by 100th Infantry Battalion veteran Joe Sugawara, a Hawaii Island AJA Veterans Legacy Association board member, during Keaau High’s Senior Awards Assembly.
Kawamoto was a valedictorian of the Keaau High class of 2019, vice president of the CyberPatriot Club and secretary of HOSA Future Health Professionals, placing first in the nursing assistant regional HOSA competition this year.
She also is president of the Puna Taiko Club and a community service volunteer with Puna Hongwanji and the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.
The scholarship application required an essay describing the significance and role of Americans of Japanese ancestry during World War II. Kawamoto wrote about the 442nd Regimental Combat Team that included her great-grandfather, Heiso Matsuda, who served in Company D.
Kawamoto is the daughter of Kevin and Jennifer Nakano. She plans to attend the University of Hawaii at Hilo in the fall to major in nursing.
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