1. Healthcare

Dear Student: You are invited to apply for the Nisei Student Relocation Commemorative Fund (NSRCF) scholarship. The NSRCF selects one city or region in the United States each year for its awards. This year, the NSRCF has selected Northern California. In June of 2015, the NSRCF will award $50,000 of scholarships to college bound Southeast Asian American high school seniors: fourteen $2,000 awards and $22,000 in additional scholarships of lesser amounts. To be eligible for a scholarship, applicants must:  Be of Southeast Asian ancestry (at least one parent born in Vietnam, Laos, or Cambodia)  Attend a high school in Northern California.  Graduate high school or complete GED in 2015  Attend university, community college, or an accredited vocational or technical school in the Fall of 2015  Have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher In evaluating applications, consideration will be given to:  Academic achievement  Demonstrated ability to overcome hardship  Extracurricular activities in school and/or community, and/or work experience  Educational, career, and personal goals  Potential to succeed in education after high school  Financial need  Two letters of reference Please read the instructions in the application packet carefully. You may complete an online application or mail a completed application that must be postmarked no later than March 15, 2015. Online applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM on March 15, 2015. Applicants will be notified of award decisions at the end of April 2015. Scholarship recipients will be recognized at our 35th Anniversary Award Ceremony on Saturday, June 20, 2015 in Oakland, California. Details on the ceremony will be announced later. For further information, email us at [email protected] or visit our website: www.nsrcfund.org Sincerely, Don Misumi and Rattana Yeang Co‐Chairs, Local Awards Committee 2015 NSRCF Scholarship Award Application Page 1
About the Nisei Student Relocation Commemorative Fund (NSRCF) Since the 1970s, Southeast Asian communities have become an important and growing part of many American cities. A major challenge facing these families is finding resources to support the educational aspirations of their children. The Nisei Student Relocation Commemorative Fund (NSRCF) sponsors a national scholarship program created specifically to help this community, many whose lives have been disrupted by war and other calamities. The story of the NSRCF begins in 1942 when more than 120,000 persons of Japanese ancestry in America were forcibly uprooted from their homes and confined in internment camps without due process during World War II. Two‐thirds of the evacuees were Nisei, a Japanese word meaning “second generation” that refers to the American‐born children of Japanese immigrants. Among the Nisei interned were thousands of college students whose studies were abruptly halted. Courageous individuals and organizations that recognized the consequences of incarcerating these students formed the National Japanese American Student Relocation Council. They included college administrators, the American Friends Service Committee, Quakers, YMCA, YWCA, religious and other service organizations. The Council believed these students should be given the opportunity to complete their education for their personal benefit and to help secure the future of their community. Between 1942 and 1946, the Council helped nearly 5,000 Nisei leave the internment camps to continue their college education. Many of the Nisei students went on to rewarding careers from architecture and fine arts to science and education. But they never forgot their experience during World War II and the compassion and generosity of the Council. In 1980, a small group of these former students living in New England found a way to repay the kindness they received nearly 38 years earlier. They established the Nisei Student Relocation Commemorative Fund in honor of those who helped them at a pivotal time in their lives. Since then, the Fund has grown with support from individuals from all over the United States, making it possible to award scholarships to hundreds of students. Since 1983, the Fund has awarded over $750,000 in scholarships to Southeast Asian seniors across the United States. Board of Directors Jean Y. Hibino Stephen Y. Hibino Yutaka Kobayashi Phuoc V. Le James McIlwain Kesaya E. Noda Keith Schuricht May O. Takayanagi Phitsamay Uy Paul Y. Watanabe Margie Yamamoto Local Awards Committee Don Misumi Rattana Yeang Jeffrey Chu Phuoc V. Le Tara Mochizuki Anne Okahara Pysay Phinith Aleta Rattanasith 2015 NSRCF Scholarship Award Application Page 2
Instructions for Applying To apply for a scholarship with the NSRCF, you must complete an application form, compose a two page personal statement, submit two letters of reference, provide an official school transcript, and complete a release waiver. For help applying, email the NSRCF at [email protected]. The Application Deadline is March 15, 2015.
1. Complete an Application Form. The Application Form may be completed online or a paper application may be mailed to the NSRCF. All mailed paper application forms must be postmarked no later than March 15, 2015. The online Application Form may be found here: http://www.nsrcfund.org/ 2. Compose a two page personal statement, 500 words or fewer (two pages and typed) a.
b.
c.
d.
Tell us about yourself and why you want to continue your education after high school. What obstacles or challenges have you faced in getting an education? What are your personal and career goals? What contributions do you see yourself making to your community in the future? 3. Submit TWO letters of reference. One must be from a school official. Give a copy of a “Letter to Referent” to each person writing a letter of reference for you. Ask them to mail their letter directly to the NSRCF to the address below. All letters must be postmarked no later than March 15, 2015. **Note: If you have letters of reference already completed for college you can submit those. 4. Ask your school office to send the NSRCF an official copy of your transcript. Give a copy of the “Official Transcript Request Form” to the school official providing the official transcript. The transcript must be mailed directly to the NSRCF to the address below and postmarked no later than March 15, 2015. 5. Complete and sign the release form. If you are under 18 years of age, your parent/guardian must also sign the release form. All application materials should be sent directly to: NSRCF Local Awards Committee c/o Phuoc V. Le 525 Nelson Rising Lane #1017 San Francisco, CA 94158 Announcements of Awards: Applicants will be notified of the Local Awards Committee’s decision by the end of April 2015. Award Ceremony: Scholarship recipients will be invited to an awards ceremony to be held on Saturday, June 20, 2015 in Oakland, California. Details will be given at a later date. 2015 NSRCF Scholarship Award Application Page 3
Application Checklist A complete application includes: 1. Application form 2. Personal statement 3. Two letters of reference 4. An official school transcript 5. Release form If mailing application, make sure the following documents are included in the envelope: 1. Application form 2. Personal statement 3. Release form 2015 NSRCF Scholarship Award Application Page 4
Application Form Name: _______________________________________________________________________________ Last First Middle Current Address: _______________________________________________________________________ Street City/State Zip Gender: __ Date of Birth: __ Home Telephone: ( ) Cell Phone: ( ) Email: _____ Your ethnicity: Cambodian ___ Hmong ___ Mien ___ Lao ___ Vietnamese ___ Other: ___________ Were you born in the U.S. ? ___Yes ___No Year of arrival if not born in the U.S. :________ If born in the U.S., City/State of Birth: ______________________________________________________ Are you a U.S. Citizen? ___Yes ___No Mother’s Name: _________________________ Mother’s Occupation: _______________________ Mother’s Birthplace: _______________________________ Number of Years in U.S. _______________ Is your Mother a U.S. Citizen? _____________ Father’s Name: __________________________ Father’s Occupation: ________________________ Father’s Birthplace: _________________________________ Number of Years in U.S. _____________ Is your Father a U.S. Citizen? _____________ Parent’s marital status: ___ Separated ___ Widowed ___ Married ___ Divorced 2015 NSRCF Scholarship Award Application Page 5
Application Form Check the highest level of formal education obtained by parents: Mother Father ___ ___ Did not attend school in the U.S. ___ ___ Elementary school ___ ___ Middle school ___ ___ Some high school ___ ___ High school graduate ___ ___ Some college ___ ___ Graduated from community college ___ ___ Graduated from a four‐year college or university ___ ___ Graduate/Professional Degree Number of family members in household (including yourself): _________________________________ Number of household members currently enrolled in college: _________________________________ Number of household members that have graduated from college: ______________________________ Estimated Family Income (gross income per year): $_________________________________ Please list all members of your household: First Name Last Name
Relation to You Age
2015 NSRCF Scholarship Award Application Page 6
Application Form Name of your high school: _______________________________________________________________ School Address: _______________________________________________________________________ Street City/State Zip How many years have you attended this school? ____________________ (Complete the section below if you’ve attended more than 1 high school) Name of former high school: _____________________________________________________________ School Address: _______________________________________________________________________ Street City/State Zip How many years did you attend this school? ____________________ High School Cumulative GPA Desired major/area of study in college/vocational/technical school: ___ _________________________________________________________________________________ Colleges/schools applied to (or plan to apply to): __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ Honors/Awards Received: ___________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ 2015 NSRCF Scholarship Award Application Page 7
Application Form – Extracurricular Activities School Activities Date/s Activity School/Organization Hrs/Wk _______ _____________________________ ______________________________ ______ _______ _____________________________ ______________________________ ______ _______ _____________________________ ______________________________ ______ Community Service/Volunteer Experience Date/s Activity Community Organization Hrs/Wk _______ _____________________________ ______________________________ ______ _______ _____________________________ ______________________________ ______ _______ _____________________________ ______________________________ ______ Work Experience (including work in family business): Date/s Job Description Business Hrs/Wk _______ _____________________________ ______________________________ ______ _______ _____________________________ ______________________________ ______ _______ _____________________________ ______________________________ ______ (Attach an additional sheet if more space is needed for any of the above; or attach an explanation if you are unable to participate in extracurricular activities.) ************************************************************************************* My signature below certifies that all statements I have made on this application and the information I submit to the Northern California Local Awards Committee are true and complete. _______________________________________ Signature ____________________ Date _______________________________________ Print Your Name 2015 NSRCF Scholarship Award Application Page 8
Application Form – Additional Requirements I.
PERSONAL STATEMENT ‐ 500 words or fewer (2 pages and typed) a. Please tell us about yourself and why you want to continue your education after high school. b. What obstacles or challenges have you faced in getting an education? c. What are your personal and career goals? d. What contributions do you see yourself making to your community in the future? II. TWO LETTERS OF REFERENCE Obtain two letters of reference. One must be from a school official (such as a teacher, counselor, or principal), and the other can be from a community leader, a minister or priest, or an employer (cannot be a family member). List the names and positions of the two people you have asked to write to us below. Give each referent a copy of the attached “Letter to Referent.” The letters should be sent directly to the NSRCF Local Awards Committee (address below). **Note: If you have letters of reference already completed for college you can submit those. Reference #1 Name: _____________________________________________________________________________ Address: ___________________________________________________________________________ Position/Occupation:_____________________________________Telephone:___________________ Reference #2 Name: ____________________________________________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________________________________ Position/Occupation:_____________________________________Telephone:___________________ Position/Occupation: _____________________________________Telephone:___________________ III. OFFICIAL SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT Please ask your school office to mail us an official copy of your transcript by giving them the Official Transcript Request form on Page 13 of this document. All application materials should be sent directly to: NSRCF Local Awards Committee c/o Phuoc V. Le 525 Nelson Rising Lane #1017 San Francisco, CA 94158 2015 NSRCF Scholarship Award Application Page 9
Application Release Please review and sign this form and return it with your application. By signing this release, you agree that your application, personal essay, and references made for the 2015 Nisei Student Relocation Commemorative Fund scholarship program become the property of the Nisei Student Relocation Commemorative Fund to be used by the Nisei Student Relocation Commemorative Fund, researchers and the public for educational purposes including publications, exhibitions, presentations, and the World Wide Web. Sensitive information will not be disclosed, but may be aggregated and de‐identified before release. I am 18 years of age and I am competent to contract in my own name, OR I am the Legal Guardian of an individual under the age of 18 years and sign on said individual's behalf. I have read this release before signing below, and I fully understand the contents and meaning of this release. Signature Full Name (please print) If under 18 years of age: Guardian Signature Guardian Name (please print) ______________________________ Date ______________________________ Date Relation to Student 2015 NSRCF Scholarship Award Application Page 10
Dear Referent: Thank you for providing a letter of reference for the applicant for a scholarship to be awarded by the Nisei Student Relocation Commemorative Fund (NSRCF). This year, the Fund will award fourteen $2,000 scholarships and an additional $22,000 in scholarships of lesser amounts, to graduating high school seniors of Southeast Asian ancestry who plan to attend a four‐year college or university, community college, or vocational or technical school in the Fall 2015. The Nisei Student Relocation Commemorative Fund (NSRCF) was founded in 1980 by Nisei (second generation Japanese Americans) who were incarcerated in U.S. internment camps during World War II. More than 5,000 Nisei college students were assisted by the National Japanese American Student Relocation Council to leave the internment camps and continue their education. Nearly 40 years later, the Nisei established this scholarship to honor those who helped them. The scholarships are awarded to Southeast Asian high school seniors whose families’ lives were disrupted by the Vietnam War. (For more information about the Fund: www.nsrcfund.org.) Letters of reference are a key factor in selecting the scholarship recipients. It is essential that the Local Awards Committee reference letter be postmarked no later than March 15, 2015. The letter should be on letterhead stationery, if possible, and should address the following:  How long you have known the applicant and in what role  The applicant’s character  The applicant’s potential to succeed in college, community college, vocational or technical school  Any other information you think would be helpful to the Local Awards Committee in making its decision Please send your letter directly to: NSRCF Local Awards Committee c/o Phuoc V. Le 525 Nelson Rising Lane #1017 San Francisco, CA 94158 Please provide your honest feedback about the applicant. Your letter will be kept confidential and will be read only by the Local Awards Committee. For more information, please contact us at [email protected] or visit our website: www.nsrcfund.org Sincerely, Don Misumi and Rattana Yeang Co‐Chairs, Local Awards Committee 2015 NSRCF Scholarship Award Application Page 11
Dear Referent: Thank you for providing a letter of reference for the applicant for a scholarship to be awarded by the Nisei Student Relocation Commemorative Fund (NSRCF). This year, the Fund will award fourteen $2,000 scholarships and an additional $22,000 in scholarships of lesser amounts, to graduating high school seniors of Southeast Asian ancestry who plan to attend a four‐year college or university, community college, or vocational or technical school in the Fall of 2015. The Nisei Student Relocation Commemorative Fund (NSRCF) was founded in 1980 by Nisei (second generation Japanese Americans) who were incarcerated in U.S. internment camps during World War II. More than 5,000 Nisei college students were assisted by the National Japanese American Student Relocation Council to leave the internment camps and continue their education. Nearly 40 years later, the Nisei established this scholarship to honor those who helped them. The scholarships are awarded to Southeast Asian high school seniors whose families’ lives were disrupted by the Vietnam War. (For more information about the Fund: www.nsrcfund.org.) Letters of reference are a key factor in selecting the scholarship recipients. It is essential that the Local Awards Committee reference letter be postmarked no later than March 15, 2015. The letter should be on letterhead stationery, if possible, and should address the following:  How long you have known the applicant and in what role  The applicant’s character  The applicant’s potential to succeed in college, community college, vocational or technical school  Any other information you think would be helpful to the Local Awards Committee in making its decision Please send your letter directly to: NSRCF Local Awards Committee c/o Phuoc V. Le 525 Nelson Rising Lane #1017 San Francisco, CA 94158 Please provide your honest feedback about the applicant. Your letter will be kept confidential and will be read only by the Local Awards Committee. For more information, please contact us at [email protected] or visit our website: www.nsrcfund.org Sincerely, Don Misumi and Rattana Yeang Co‐Chairs, Local Awards Committee 2015 NSRCF Scholarship Award Application Page 12
Official Transcript Request Form Student Name: ________________________________________________________________________ Last First Middle Current Address: _______________________________________________________________________ Street City/State Zip ****************************************************************************** Please complete the following information and provide an official sealed transcript for the student above. This student is applying for a scholarship from the NSRCF. The NSRCF will be awarding $50,000 worth of scholarships to Southeast Asian senior high school students throughout Northern California this year. For more information on the NSRCF, please visit our website at www.nsrcfund.org or email us at [email protected]. School Name: _________________________________________________________________________ School Address: _______________________________________________________________________ Street City/State Zip Official Transcript prepared by Name: __________________________________________________________________ Title/Position: ____________________________________________________________ Telephone: _____________________________ Email:___________________________ Signature: ____________________________________ Date: _______________________ Mail Official Transcript Directly To: NSRCF Local Awards Committee c/o Phuoc V. Le 525 Nelson Rising Lane #1017 San Francisco, CA 94158
2015 NSRCF Scholarship Award Application Page 13