Applications for the Berkeley Chapter Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) Scholarship Program are available for high school students entering their freshman year in any accredited institution of higher learning in the Fall 2026. The Berkeley chapter anticipates awarding multiple scholarships up to $3,000 per scholarship.
All 2026 applications must be filled out “online” (JACL.org) and submitted to National JACL (same process as in 2025). National JACL will receive each application and forward the application back to the appropriate local JACL chapter for evaluation and consideration of a scholarship at the local chapter level. To apply, please do the following:
- Go to JACL Scholarship Website
- Enter “Berkeley” as the local chapter on the application
- All applicants must be a JACL member, find membership forms here
- Questions – Contact Berkeley Chapter Scholarship Chair, Ryan Matsuda, ryan.matsuda@outlook.com
Applicants must be planning to attend a college, university, community college, trade school, business school, or any other accredited institution of higher learning in the Fall 2026. Students deferring enrollment will not qualify for the 2026 program.
DUE DATE – March 2 , 2026
Applications must be submitted “online” to National JACL by Monday, March 2, 2026. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic achievement, community involvement, school activities, work history, letter of recommendation, personal statement, Japanese cultural activities, and a group interview. Special consideration will be given to applicants who are the first in their family to attend college and/or to those who qualify as low income.
JACL MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED
While JACL involvement is not required to apply for this scholarship, every applicant must be a Berkeley JACL member. Please contact the scholarship chair, Ryan Matsuda, for a membership application. Please submit your completed application and $35.00 membership fee by January 31, 2026. A limited number of memberships are available at no cost to the applicant if the $35.00 fee creates a hardship
SCHOLARSHIP PRESENTATION & NATIONAL JACL AWARDS PROGRAM
All Berkeley Chapter scholarships will be awarded to recipients at a scholarship awards event scheduled for late April/early May 2026 (details to be announced). All recipients are expected to attend this awards event (as guests of the Berkeley JACL) to receive their scholarship.
By April 3, 2026, Berkeley will forward “outstanding” application(s) for further consideration to the JACL’s National Scholarship and Awards Program for 9 National Scholarships ranging in award amounts from $1,000 to $5,000 per scholarship. Recipients of these national scholarships will be announced in September 2026.