Community Service Awards Community Committee Awards Gary Lee Higa Friendship Award Booklet Cover Design Contest Fact Sheet Help Find Eligible Students		In 1955, the Japanese American community established a scholarship to honor the late Mr. Harry Sakata. Mr. Sakata was involved with the Japanese American community on both the local and national level and believed the youth were the future of the Japanese American community. From those early beginnings, the Japanese American Community Graduation Program has developed into a program that recognizes all high school seniors of Japanese American ancestry. This program is dedicated to all graduating high school students who exemplify Mr. Sakata’s qualities of leadership and community service. Annually, a graduation banquet is held to honor all eligible high school graduates. Several awards and scholarships are also presented at this banquet to assist some of these graduates continue with their education.